Niccolo Machiavelli Professions : HistorianBorn : May 3, 1469Died : June 21, 1527 Browse All Authors Top 400 quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society. Niccolo Machiavelli societyseems (A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds. Niccolo Machiavelli interestshouldreason All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation. Niccolo Machiavelli ignorantraceart That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his people, he can only be attacked with difficulty. Niccolo Machiavelli menwarart ...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded. Niccolo Machiavelli ficklenaturepeople ...it behooves us to adapt oneself to the times if one wants to enjoy continued good fortune. Niccolo Machiavelli fortunewantlife The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises. Niccolo Machiavelli takenwarpromise Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite. Niccolo Machiavelli faithfulreligiousopposites And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, to do so when there is a proper justification and manifest reason for it; but above all he must abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. Niccolo Machiavelli warfatherart I hope and hoping feeds my pain Niccolo Machiavelli laughterpainreading ....those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease. Niccolo Machiavelli politicsskillsease ....nothing is so unhealthy or unstable as the reputation for power that is not based on one's own power. Niccolo Machiavelli unstablereputationpolitics And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win. Niccolo Machiavelli warbelieveart Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it. Niccolo Machiavelli fightingwarart It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated. Niccolo Machiavelli oughthated Then also pretexts for seizing property are never wanting, and one who begins to live by rapine will always find some reason for taking the goods of others, whereas causes for taking life are rarer and more quickly destroyed. Niccolo Machiavelli causeswarart Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking. Niccolo Machiavelli togetherlovetwo And if such malignity is hidden for a time, it proceeds from the unknown reason that would not be known because the experience of the contrary had not been seen, but time, which is said to be the father of every truth, will cause it to be discovered. Niccolo Machiavelli warfatherart You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him. Niccolo Machiavelli warbelieveart So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil. Niccolo Machiavelli ableevilwar Similar Authors Abram L. Sachar historian Bryan Ward-Perkins historian Bruce Catton historian Bruce Bartlett historian Brian Crozier historian Allan Nevins historianAll Authors
