511 Quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli

A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.

The greatest remedy that is used against a plan of the enemy is to do voluntarily what he plans that you do by force.

Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion.

One should never allow chaos to develop in order to avoid going to war, because one does not avoid a war but instead puts it off to his disadvantage

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 nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.

From the latter he is defended by being well armed and having good allies, and if he is well armed he will have good friends, and affairs will always remain quiet within when they are quiet without, unless they should have been already disturbed by conspiracy; and even should affairs outside be disturbed, if he has carried out his preparations and has lived as I have said, as long as he does not despair, he will resist every attack.

He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed