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Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes - Page 7

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A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible.

A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Strong, Thinking, Together

Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Men, Brave, Training
Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Complete Art of War”, p.416, Simon and Schuster

A wise prince then...should never be idle in times of peace but should industriously lay up stores of which to avail himself in times of adversity so that when fortune abandons him he may be prepared to resist her blows.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Wise, Adversity, Blow

Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Eye, Men, Hands

One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Peace, War, Order

I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but cannot oppose it; that they may weave its warp, but cannot break it. Yet they should never give up, because there is always hope, though they know not the end and more towards it along roads which cross one another and as yet are unexplored; and since there is hope, they should not despair, no matter what fortune brings or in what travail they find themselves.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, Giving Up, War
"Discourses on Livy" by Niccolò Machiavelli, book 2, ch. 29, as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick, 1517.

One must consider the final result

Niccolo Machiavelli
Finals, Results, Ends Justify The Means
Niccolo Machiavelli (1979). “The Portable Machiavelli”, p.14, Penguin

So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Impossible
"Discourses on Livy" by Niccolò Machiavelli, book 1, ch. 3, as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick, 1517.

The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, People, Affection
"The Prince". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, 1513.

It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Men, Weather, Common

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Love, Children, Crazy

Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Winning

No one should therefore fear that he cannot accomplish what others have accomplished, for, men are born, live, and die in quite the same way they always have.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Men, Way, Born

He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed

Niccolo Machiavelli
People, Favour, Easy
Niccolo Machiavelli, Sir Thomas More, Sir (2010). “Machiavelli, More & Luther”, p.36, Cosimo, Inc.

The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so that the desire being always greater than the acquisition, there results discontent with the possession and little satisfaction to themselves from it. From this arises the changes in their fortunes; for as men desire, some to have more, some in fear of losing their acquisition, there ensues enmity and war, from which results the ruin of that province and the elevation of another.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Men
"Discourses on Livy". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli, Book 1, Ch. 37, (as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick, 1517.

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Evil, Able
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1947). “THE PRINCE”

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Done, Ruins, Neglect
Niccolo Machiavelli (2015). “The Prince”, p.69, Xist Publishing

If the present be compared with the remote past, it is easily seen that in all cities and in all peoples there are the same desires and the same passions as there always were.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Passion, Past, Cities

Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself; for that power is produced by him either through craft or force; and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Powerful, Crafts, Causes
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.12, Knickerbocker Classics

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Simple, Men, Good Man
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.99, Race Point Publishing

The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Play, Lions, Foxes

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Philosophical, Opportunity, Literature

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Government, Law, Foundation
Niccolo Machiavelli (2010). “The Prince”, p.47, FastPencil Inc

Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Men, Order

A prince is also respected when he is a true friend and a true enemy; that is, when he declares himself on the side of one prince against another without any reservation.

Niccolo Machiavelli
True Friend, Enemy
"The Portable Machiavelli".

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