Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed or exempt from danger.

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.

Men hesitate less to injure a man who makes himself loved than to injure one who makes himself feared for their love is held by a chain of obligation which because of mens wickedness is broken on every occasion for the sake of selfish profit but their fear is secured by a dread of punishment.

Fear is secured by a dread of punishment.

Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.

Where the willingness is great the difficulties cannot be great.

One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.

Only those means of security are good are certain are lasting that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion.

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

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

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

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.

To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

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.

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

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

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