Wisdom Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“Thus a wise prince will think of ways to keep his citizens of every sort and under every circumstance dependent on the…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“Therefore, a wise prince must think of a method by which his citizens will need the state and himself at all times…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“There are many who think a wise prince ought, when he has the chance, to foment astutely some enmity, so that by…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“When everyone feels free to tell you the truth, respect for you dwindles… A wise prince should take another course: choose wise…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“he wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled,…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

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

“exactly to those paths which others have taken, or attain to the virtues of those whom they would resemble, the wise man…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

There are three kinds of minds: first those that attain insight and understanding of things by their own means, then those that…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“a wise man should always enter those paths trodden by great men, and imitate those who have been most excellent, so that…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.

— Niccolo Machiavelli