6 Quotes by Machiavelli Niccolo

These opportunities, then, gave these men the chance they needed, and their great abilities made them recognize it.

Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain.

Those who believe that where great personages are concerned new favors cause old injuries to be forgotten deceive themselves.

...no one should marvel at the ease with which Alexander [the Great] kept possession of Asia, or at the difficulties which others, like Pyrrhus and many more, had in preserving their conquests. The difference does not arise from the greater or lesser ability of the conqueror, but from dissimilarities in the conquered lands.

For this can be said of men in general: that they are ungrateful, fickle, hypocrites and dissemblers, avoiders of dangers, greedy for gain; and while you benefit them, they are entirely yours, offering you their blood, their goods, their life, their children,...when need is far away, but when you actually become needy, they turn away. (translated by Wayne A. Rebhorn)

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