Quotes By Niccolo Machiavelli

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.

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

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.

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

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

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

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.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

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

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

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

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

Politics have no relation to morals.

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

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.

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.

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

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