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Philosophical Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli
- One can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain; and while you work…
- The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
- Never was anything great achieved without danger.
- The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
- No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
- It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
- Before all else, be armed.
- I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
- Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
- Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
- It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
- A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
- One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
- There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
- There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
- God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
- Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
- One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
- Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
- A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
- Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
- War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.
- We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
- Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
More Philosophical Quotes
- Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. — Aristotle
- Hope is a waking dream. — Aristotle
- Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies. — Aristotle
- The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes. — Aristotle
- You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. — Aristotle
- The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. — Aristotle
- Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers. — Aristotle
- Quality is not an act, it is a habit. — Aristotle
- All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. — Aristotle
- The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal. — Aristotle
- The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival. — Aristotle
- The energy of the mind is the essence of life. — Aristotle