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Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes - Page 2

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Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Stupid, Men, Needs

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Humorous, Opportunity, Differences

One of the great secrets of the day is to know how to take possession of popular prejudices and passions, in such a way as to introduce a confusion of principles which makes impossible all understanding between those who speak the same language and have the same interests.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Passion, Confusion, Understanding

Never do an enemy a small injury.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Military, Bad Ass, Enemy

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
Truth, Reality, Empathy

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Life, Positive, Birthday

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Philosophical, Deceit, Literature

There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Believe

I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles

Niccolo Machiavelli
Death, Kings, Heaven

Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Inspirational, Life, Motivational

The unarmed man is not just defenseless - he is also contemptible.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Men, Second Amendment, Unarmed

A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Peace, War, Mistake

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Liars, Lying, Philosophical
"The Prince".

You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Fighting
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.55, Knickerbocker Classics

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Wise, Wisdom, Opportunity

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Country, Philosophical, Religion

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
Gun, Eight, Rome

People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Revenge, Badass, Bad Ass

A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Wise, Should, Rely
Niccolo Machiavelli, Quentin Skinner, Russell Price (1988). “Machiavelli: The Prince”, p.61, Cambridge University Press

The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Taken, World, Crowds

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Mistake, Ambition, Sloth
"The Prince". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli, chapter III: Of Mixed Princedoms, 1513.

It is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved? It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both: but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Love, Witty, Powerful
Niccolo Machiavelli (2015). “The Prince”, p.64, Booklassic

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
Physicians, Disease, Afar
"Tact is one of the first of mental virtues, the absence of which is frequently fatal to the best of talents. Without denying that it is a talent of itself, it will suffice if we admit that it supplies the place of many talents".

The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Evil, Leader, Should

Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Perseverance, Weakness, Weapons

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