Quotes By 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.

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

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.

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.

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

Before all else, be armed.

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

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.

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

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

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

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

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

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

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.

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

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.

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

It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.

Politics have no relation to morals.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

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

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

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

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

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

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

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.