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Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes about War - Page 2

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Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape

Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Men
Niccolo Machiavelli (2018). “History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy”, p.115, Ozymandias Press

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.

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.

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

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”

Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Men, Order

War is a profession by which a man cannot live honorably; an employment by which the soldier, if he would reap any profit, is obliged to be false, rapacious, and cruel.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Peace, War, Men

Hence it happened that all the armed prophets conquered, all the unarmed perished. [It., Di qui nacque che tutti li profeti armati vincero, e li disarmati rovinarono.]

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Prophet, Unarmed

Conquered states that have been accustomed to liberty and the government of their own laws can be held by the conqueror in three different ways. The first is to ruin them; the second, for the conqueror to go and reside there in person; and the third is to allow them to continue to live under their own laws, subject to a regular tribute, and to create in them a government of a few, who will keep the country friendly to the conqueror

Niccolo Machiavelli
Country, War, Government

And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Believe

The Romans never allowed a trouble spot to remain simply to avoid going to war over it, because they knew that wars don't just go away, they are only postponed to someone else's advantage. Therefore, they made war with Philip and Antiochus in Greece, in order not to have to fight them in Italy... They never went by that saying which you constantly hear from the wiseacres of our day, that time heals all things. They trusted rather their own character and prudence- knowing perfectly well that time contains the seeds of all things, good as well as bad.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Character
"The Prince". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, ch. 3, 1513.

It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle, frivolous, effeminate, mean-spirited, irresolute, from all of which a prince should guard himself as from a rock; and he should endeavour to show in his actions greatness, courage, gravity, and fortitude; and in his private dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are irrevocable, and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can hope either to deceive him or to get round him.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Mean
Niccolo Machiavelli (2015). “The Prince”, p.80, Xist Publishing

War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Philosophical, Arms

Although deceit is detestable in all other things, yet in the conduct of war it is laudable and honorable; and a commander who vanquishes an enemy by stratagem is equally praised with one who gains victory by force.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Enemy, Victory
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.216, Knickerbocker Classics

In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune.

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

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.

Niccolo Machiavelli
War, Taken, Promise

And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, to do so when there is a proper justification and manifest reason for it; but above all he must abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, Father, War
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.53, Race Point Publishing

A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Two
Niccolo Machiavelli (2015). “The Prince”, p.80, Xist Publishing

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
Art, War, Men
Niccolo Machiavelli (2018). “History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy”, p.115, Ozymandias Press

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Desire
Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.52, Knickerbocker Classics

In the armies and among every ten men there is one of more life, of more heart, or at least of more authority, who with his courage, with words and by example keeps the others firm and disposed to fight.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Fighting
"The Complete Art of War".

And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.

Niccolo Machiavelli
Art, War, Ambition
Niccolo Machiavelli (2015). “The Prince”, p.80, Xist Publishing

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