Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”

“Before all else, be armed.”

“Never was anything great achieved without danger”

“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.”

“Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.”

“War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.”

“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.”

“Raising children is like chewing on a stone”

“When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred...”

“Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.”

“Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.”

“A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.”

“God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us”

“There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.”

“And if, to be sure, sometimes you need to conceal a fact with words, do it in such a way that it does not become known, or, if it does become known, that you have a ready and quick defense”

“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”

“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”