511 Quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli

A blast in the human breast is nothing to boast of.

Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.

It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.

The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.

He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.

Before all else, be armed.

A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and its ordering and discipline; because it is the only art that pertains to him who commands. And it is of such virtue that not only does it maintain those who were born princes, but many times makes men rise to that rank from private station.

Nothing feeds upon itself as liberality does.

How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.