35 Astute Quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli (born May 3, 1469, Florence, Italy – died June 21, 1527, Florence, Italy) was an Italian diplomat, philosopher, writer, and a notable figure of the Italian Renaissance, known primarily for his political ideas.
Machiavelli is best known as the author of The Prince (1532), a political treatise that inspired the term Machiavellianism and established its author as the father of modern political science. In addition to The Prince, Machiavelli wrote Discourses on Livy (1531), The Art of War (1521), Florentine Histories (1532), and several minor compositions, including The Mandrake (1524).
Although his influence was enormous, Machiavelli’s philosophical legacy remains enigmatic due to frequent misinterpretation. His works and ideas have influenced Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Baruch Spinoza, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Nietzsche, Denis Diderot, and many others
The first impression that one gets of a ruler and of his brains is from seeing the men that he has about him.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XXII, Page 92
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., ed. 1891), Book III, Chapter XXII, Page 382
It is not titles that honor men, but men honor the titles.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., ed. 1891), Book III, Chapter XXXVIII, Page 417
The lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognise snares, and a lion to frighten wolves.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XVIII, Page 69
Everybody sees what you appear to be, few feel what you are.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XVIII, Page 71
Whoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., ed. 1891), Book III, Chapter IX, Page 353
War was not to be avoided, and could be deferred only to the advantage of the other side.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter III, Page 10
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.The Art of War (1521), (Bobbs-Merrill Co., ed. 1965), Book Seven, Page 202
There is no other way of guarding one’s self against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XXIII, Page 94
It is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XVII, Page 66
There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter VI, Page 22
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XIX, Page 77
Men being moved by two chief passions, love and fear.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Kegan Paul, Trench, & Co., ed. 1883), Book III, Chapter XXI, Page 413
All armed prophets have conquered and unarmed ones failed.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter VI, Page 22
The injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter III, Page 8
He who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather learn to bring about his own ruin than his preservation.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XV, Page 61
Whenever one does not attack the property or honour of the generality of men, they will live contented.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XIX, Page 72
In all human affairs, we cannot rid ourselves of one inconvenience without running into another.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Kegan Paul, Trench, & Co., ed. 1883), Book I, Chapter VI, Page 30
Like all other things which are born and grow rapidly, cannot have deep roots, so that the first storm destroys them.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter VII, Page 24
Nor can there be great difficulty where there is great willingness.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XXVI, Page 104
Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered.The Art of War (1521), (Bobbs-Merrill Co., ed. 1965), Book Seven, Page 202
Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., ed. 1891), Book I, Chapter III, Page 104
Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter VIII, Page 36
We cannot attribute to fortune or merit that which he achieved without either.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter VIII, Page 33
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XVIII, Page 70)
A prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XVIII, Page 70
Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so. Good order and discipline in an army are more to be depended upon than ferocity.The Art of War (1521), (Bobbs-Merrill Co., ed. 1965), Book Seven, Page 202
A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get some tinge of it.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter VI, Page 20
Whoever considers the past and the present will readily observe that all cities and all peoples are and ever have been animated by the same desires and the same passions.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., ed. 1891), Book I, Chapter XXXIX, Page 180
Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.Discourses on Livy (1531), (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., ed. 1891), Book I, Chapter XLVI, Page 192
There are three different kinds of brains, the one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others. The first kind is most excellent, the second also excellent, but the third useless.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XXII, Page 92
The chief foundations of all states, whether new, old, or mixed, are good laws and good arms. And as there cannot be good laws where there are not good arms, and where there are good arms there should be good laws.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XII, Page 47
A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XV, Page 60
Men have less scruple in offending one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter XVII, Page 66
One change always leaves the way prepared for the introduction of another.The Prince (1532), (Oxford University Press, ed. 1921), Chapter II, Page 4