For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm. Niccolo Machiavelli More Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli More Quotes From Niccolo Machiavelli Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived. Niccolo Machiavelli stupidmenneeds It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to enslave a people that wants to remain free. Niccolo Machiavelli politicaltryingpeople Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results. Niccolo Machiavelli passionmotivationalinspirational Men are of three different capacities: one understands intuitively; another understands so far as it is explained; and a third understands neither of himself nor by explanation. The first is excellent, the second, commendable, and the third, altogether useless. Niccolo Machiavelli uselessmenfirsts Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine...We work in the Dark, to serve the Light. Niccolo Machiavelli shaylightdark Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear. Niccolo Machiavelli inspirationalmentwo Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years. Niccolo Machiavelli romeeightgun The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. Niccolo Machiavelli wisdomwiseopportunity And what physicians say about disease is applicable here: that at the beginning a disease is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but as time passes, not having been recognized or treated at the outset, it becomes easy to diagnose but difficult to cure. The same thing occurs in affairs of state; for by recognizing from afar the diseases that are spreading in the state (which is a gift given only to the prudent ruler), they can be cured quickly; but when, not having been recognized, they are not recognized and are left to grow to the extent that everyone recognizes them, there is no longer any cure. Niccolo Machiavelli afarphysiciansdisease Change has no constituency. Niccolo Machiavelli Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul. Niccolo Machiavelli motivationalinspirationallife The ends justifies the means. Niccolo Machiavelli ends-justify-the-meansendsmean A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes. Niccolo Machiavelli mistakewarpeace There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious. Niccolo Machiavelli appearingimportantreligious For a long time I have not said what I believed, nor do I ever believe what I say, and if indeed sometimes I do happen to tell the truth, I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find. Niccolo Machiavelli longbelievelying For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are. Niccolo Machiavelli empathytruthreality If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains. Niccolo Machiavelli warorderart The state is not an organism capable of bringing either moral or material improvements to the populace...but merely a vehicle of power for the men and party in power. Niccolo Machiavelli moralpartymen The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present. Niccolo Machiavelli keeping-promisesbrokenpast Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold. Niccolo Machiavelli politicalsoldiergold
