511 Quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli

If someone puts up the argument that King Louis gave the Romagna to Pope Alexander, and the kingdom of Naples to Spain, in order to avoid a war, I would answer as I did before: that you should never let things get out of hand in order to avoid war. You don't avoid such a war, you merely postpone it, to your own disadvantage.

Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin than his preservation.

In our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.

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

All the States and Governments by which men are or ever have been ruled, have been and are either Republics or Princedoms.

Men are of three different capacities: one understands intuitively; another understands so far as it is explained; and a third understands neither of himself nor by explanation. The first is excellent, the second, commendable, and the third, altogether useless.

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

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.

He who is the cause of another's advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.