Niccolo Machiavelli quotes

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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

Niccolo Machiavelli



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


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



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



Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
Niccolo Machiavelli



Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
Niccolo Machiavelli


Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
Niccolo Machiavelli


A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
Niccolo Machiavelli


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


The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.
Niccolo Machiavelli


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.
Niccolo Machiavelli


The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
Niccolo Machiavelli


Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
Niccolo Machiavelli


Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
Niccolo Machiavelli


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


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.
Niccolo Machiavelli


A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
Niccolo Machiavelli


Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
Niccolo Machiavelli



The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.
Niccolo Machiavelli



Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.
Niccolo Machiavelli



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



Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.
Niccolo Machiavelli



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.
Niccolo Machiavelli


The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
Niccolo Machiavelli


The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.
Niccolo Machiavelli