“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”
Intelligence
“One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.”
ChangeAll Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli
“It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.”
Men“There is no avoiding war it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.”
War“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”
Change“Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.”
Men“Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.”
Men“Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.”
Society“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.”
Love“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.”
Good“Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.”
Men“Politics have no relation to morals.”
Politics“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“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.”
Peace“Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.”
Good“A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.”
Faith“Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.”
Men“Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.”
Men“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.”
Men“Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.”
Great“War is just when it is necessary arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.”
Hope