Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
“he wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled,… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle, frivolous, effeminate, mean-spirited, irresolute, from all of which a prince should guard himself as… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Still, a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
A wise prince then...should never be idle in times of peace but should industriously lay up stores of which to avail himself… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
One should never allow chaos to develop in order to avoid going to war, because one does not avoid a war but… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.” — Niccolò Machiavelli Copy Share Image
He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,… — Niccolò Machiavelli Copy Share Image
I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image