For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob. Niccolo Machiavelli More Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli More Quotes From Niccolo Machiavelli The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt. Niccolo Machiavelli warchildrenart If someone puts up the argument that King Louis gave the Romagna to Pope Alexander, and the kingdom of Naples to Spain, in order to avoid a war, I would answer as I did before: that you should never let things get out of hand in order to avoid war. You don't avoid such a war, you merely postpone it, to your own disadvantage. Niccolo Machiavelli kingswarart I hold it to be of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words towards any one, for neither the one nor the other in any way diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious, and the other increases his hatred of you, and makes him more persevering in his efforts to injure you Niccolo Machiavelli effortmilitarymen There are three kinds of brains: One understands of itself, another can be taught to understand, and the third can neither understand to itself or be taught to understand. Niccolo Machiavelli threeunderstandingbrain One must consider the final result Niccolo Machiavelli ends-justify-the-meansfinalsresults For it must be noted, that men must either be caressed or else annihilated; they will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones; the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance. Niccolo Machiavelli revengemenneeds Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose. Niccolo Machiavelli winningwarart A prince who is not himself wise cannot be wisely advised. . . . Good advice depends on the shrewdness of the prince who seeks it, and not the shrewdness of the prince on good advice. Niccolo Machiavelli shrewdnesswiseadvice Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds. Niccolo Machiavelli natureambitionteaching Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious, a prince must consider it of little importance if he incurs the name of miser, for this is one of the vices that permits him to rule. Niccolo Machiavelli viceslittlesorder One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state. Niccolo Machiavelli takencitiesmen The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved. Niccolo Machiavelli would-betogethertwo Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the tracks of others or emulate the prowess of their models. So a prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. Niccolo Machiavelli imitating-otherstrackmen Men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared because love is held together by a chain of obligation which, since men are wretched creatures, is broken on every occasion in which their own interests are concerned; but fear is sustained by dread of punishment which will never abandon you. Niccolo Machiavelli brokenlove-ismen Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge. Niccolo Machiavelli revengemenneeds For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying Niccolo Machiavelli destroyingway Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows. Niccolo Machiavelli blowwarart For without invention, no one was ever a great man in his own trade. Niccolo Machiavelli great-meninventionmen God creates men, but they choose each other. Niccolo Machiavelli communitymen I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness. Niccolo Machiavelli desirewarart
