For titles do not reflect honor on men, but rather men on their titles. Niccolo Machiavelli More Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli More Quotes From Niccolo Machiavelli When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content. Niccolo Machiavelli happy happiness men Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods. Niccolo Machiavelli results ordinary success Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived. Niccolo Machiavelli political simple men He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must thereafter fall with the greatest loss. Niccolo Machiavelli ambition loss fall For this is the tragedy of man circumstances change, but he does not. Niccolo Machiavelli tragedy doe men Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities. Niccolo Machiavelli religious opposites character The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. Niccolo Machiavelli positive birthday life A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank. And, on the contrary, it is seen that when princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states. And the first cause of your losing it is to neglect this art; and what enables you to acquire a state is to be master of the art. Niccolo Machiavelli men war art We must bear in mind, then, that there is nothing more difficult and dangerous, or more doubtful of success, than an attempt to introduce a new order of things in any state. For the innovator has for enemies all those who derived advantages from the old order of things, whilst those who expect to be benefited by the new institutions will be but lukewarm defenders. Niccolo Machiavelli mind order enemy War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. Niccolo Machiavelli philosophical arms war There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few. Niccolo Machiavelli judging should Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion. Niccolo Machiavelli wicked made men The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms. Niccolo Machiavelli foundation government law Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer. Niccolo Machiavelli benefits done giving God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried. Niccolo Machiavelli men war art Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear. Niccolo Machiavelli philosophical love men For as laws are necessary that good manners may be preserved, so there is need of good manner that laws may be maintained. Niccolo Machiavelli good-man law may Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself. Niccolo Machiavelli becoming causes powerful Never do an enemy a small injury. Niccolo Machiavelli bad-ass military enemy And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined. Niccolo Machiavelli neutrality arms order
