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Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes - Page 5

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It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the

It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Believe, Art Of War, Men
"The Prince". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli, 1513.

How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn the way to his downfall rather than to his preservation.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Different, Done, Way

It is often found that modesty and humility not only do no good, but are positively hurtful, when they are shown to the arrogant who have taken up a prejudice against you, either from envy or from any other cause.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Taken, Humility, Envy

Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony

Niccolo Machiavelli
Death, Father, Loss
Niccolo Machiavelli (2010). “The Prince”, p.69, FastPencil Inc

There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Intelligent, Appreciate, Intelligence

All the armed prophets conquered; all the unarmed ones perished.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Clarity, Prophet, Unarmed

There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Men

Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Success, Ordinary, Results
Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Discourses”, p.469, Penguin UK

A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Men, Acting, Way
Niccolo Machiavelli (1979). “The Portable Machiavelli”, p.274, Penguin

When evening comes, I return home and go into my study. On the threshold I strip off my muddy, sweaty clothes of everyday, and put on the robes of court and palace, and in this graver dress I enter the antique courts of the ancients and am welcomed by them, and there I taste the food that alone is mine, and for which I was born. And there I make bold to speak to them and ask the motives of their actions, and they, in their humanity, reply to me. And for the space of four hours I forget the world, remember no vexation, fear poverty no more, tremble no more at death; I pass indeed into their world.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Home, Clothes, Space
"The Prince". Political treatise by Niccolo Machiavelli, 1532.

In war, discipline can do more than fury.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Discipline

The peasant wants only to be left alone to prosper in peace.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Want, Peasants, Left Alone

Nothing feeds upon itself as liberality does.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Doe, Liberality
Niccolo Machiavelli (2002). “The Prince”, Spark Notes

Cruelties should be committed all at once.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Should, Cruelty, Committed
Gerald Lee Ratliff, Niccolo Machiavelli (1986). “Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince”, p.48, Barron's Educational Series

Men seldom rise from low condition to high rank without employing either force or fraud, unless that rank should be attained either by gift or inheritance.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Power, Men, Inheritance

The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Change, Order, Enemy
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.19, Knickerbocker Classics

Fear is secured by a dread of punishment.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Fear, Punishment, Dread

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Simple, Men, Hype

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Philosophical, Art Of War, Keeping Promises
Niccolo Machiavelli (1979). “The Portable Machiavelli”, p.95, Penguin

Change has no constituency.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Fighting

One arises from a low to a high station more often by using fraud instead of force.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Arise, Lows, Force
Niccolo Machiavelli (1979). “The Portable Machiavelli”, p.225, Penguin

Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Men, Wicked, Made

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Change, Philosophical, Moving Forward

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.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Peace, War, Quality
Niccolo Machiavelli (2010). “The Prince”, p.73, FastPencil Inc

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