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Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes about Art - Page 3

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To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Opportunity

That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his people, he can only be attacked with difficulty.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Men
Niccolo Machiavelli (2010). “The Prince”, p.76, FastPencil Inc

It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Order
"Florentine Histories" by Niccolò Machiavelli, book V, chapter 1, 1526.

Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than in knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Opportunity
"The Art of War". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, as translated by Neal Wood, 1965.

I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lacking.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Believe
Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Art of War and the Prince”, p.8, Simon and Schuster

A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Discipline

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
Art, Children, War
"The Prince". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli , Ch. 17, as translated by Luigi Ricci (1903), 1513.

You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Believe

Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, People

When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment; when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Punishment

Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Winning

Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Men

A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and its ordering and discipline; because it is the only art that pertains to him who commands. And it is of such virtue that not only does it maintain those who were born princes, but many times makes men rise to that rank from private station.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Men
The Prince ch. 14 (1532) (translation by Angelo M. Codevilla)

Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Fighting

Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Beautiful, Art, War

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
Art, Kings, War
"The Prince". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, ch. 3, as translated by RM Adams, 1513.

Still, a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate avoids hatred; for fear and the absence of hatred may well go together, and will be always attained by one who abstains from interfering with the property of his citizens and subjects or with their women.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Hatred
"The Prince". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, ch. 17, 1513.

All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, Race, Ignorant

As all those have shown who have discussed civil institutions, and as every history is full of examples, it is necessary to whoever arranges to found a Republic and establish laws in it, to presuppose that all men are bad and that they will use their malignity of mind every time they have the opportunity.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Opportunity
"Discourses on Livy" by Niccolò Machiavelli, book 1, ch. 3, 1517.

A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Wish
"The Prince". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, ch. 17, 1513.

No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Opportunity
Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Complete Art of War”, p.424, Simon and Schuster

The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Body
"Discourses on Livy" by Niccolò Machiavelli, book 2, ch. 3, translation by Mansfield and Tarcov, 1517.

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