And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, to do so when there is a proper justification and… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Nevertheless, he must be cautious in believing and acting, and must not inspire fear of his own accord, and must proceed in… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to… — 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
A prince... must learn from the fox and the lion... One must be a fox in order to recognize traps, and a… — 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
The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
In the armies, and among every ten men, there must be one of more life, of more heart, or at least of… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Hence it happened that all the armed prophets conquered, all the unarmed perished. [It., Di qui nacque che tutti li profeti armati… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Then also pretexts for seizing property are never wanting, and one who begins to live by rapine will always find some reason… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force… — 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
No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will… — 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
A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises. — 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