Niccolò Machiavelli Quotes

When evening comes, I return home and go into my study. On the threshold I strip off my muddy, sweaty, workday clothes, and put on the robes of court and palace, and in this graver dress I enter the antique courts of the ancients and am welcomed by them, and there I taste the food that alone is mine, and for which I was born. And there I make bold to speak to them and ask the motives of their actions, and they, in their humanity, reply to me. And for the space of four hours I forget the world, remember no vexation, fear poverty no more, tremble no more at death: I pass indeed into their world.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

... He who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new... partly from the incredulity of mankind, who will never admit the merit of anything new, until they have seen it proved by the event.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Men always praise antiquity and fault the present, although not always reasonably, and they are partisans of things past such that not only do they celebrate those ages that they know from what historians have preserved of them, but also those that as old men they recall having seen in their youth. And if this opinion of theirs is false, as it is most of the time, I am persuaded that there are various causes that lead them into this deception.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Men in general are as much affected by what a thing appears to be as by what it is, indeed they are frequently influenced more by appearances than by reality.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

A prudent man will always try to follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been truly outstanding, so that, if he is not quite as skillful as they, at least some of their ability may rub off on him.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

CHAPTER VIConcerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms And AbilityLET no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate. A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

..it happens in all human affairs that we never seek to escape one mischief without falling into another. Prudence therefore consists in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage, and in accepting a less evil as a good.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

A prince need take little account of conspiracies if the people are disposed in his favor.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

If they lacked the opportunity, the strength of their sprit would have been sapped; if they had lacked ability, the opportunity would have been wasted.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

... When Princes devote themselves rather to pleasure than to arms, they lose their dominions.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

... War is the sole art looked for in one who rules...

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

And what physicians say about consumptive illnesses is applicable here: that at the beginning, such an illness is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but as time passes, not having been recognized or treated at the outset, it becomes easy to diagnose but difficult to cure.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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)

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Never do an enemy a small injury.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Florence which included diplomatic missions to various European courts.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

at Florence which included diplomatic missions to various European courts. Imprisoned

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

When evening comes, I go back home, and go to my study. On the threshold I take off my work clothes, covered in mud and filth, and put on the clothes an ambassador would wear. Decently dressed, I enter the ancient courts of rulers who have long since died. There I am warmly welcomed, and I feed on the only food I find nourishing, and was born to savor. I am not ashamed to talk to them, and to ask them to explain their actions. And they, out of kindness, answer me. Four hours go by without my feeling any anxiety. I forget every worry. I am no longer afraid of poverty, or frightened of death. I live entirely through them.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Injuries, therefore, should be inflicted all at once, that their ill savour being less lasting may the less offend; whereas, benefits should be conferred little by little, that so they may be more fully relished.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities. And it must be understood that a prince, and especially a new prince, cannot observe all those things which are considered good in men, being often obliged, in order to maintain the state, to act against faith, against charity, against humanity, and against religion. And, therefore, he must have a mind disposed to adapt itself according to the wind, and as the variations of fortune dictate, and, as I said before, not deviate from what is good, if possible, but be able to do evil if constrained.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

... Physicians tell us of hectic fever, that in its beginning it is easy to cure, but hard to recognize; whereas, after a time, not having been detected and treated at the first, it becomes easy to recognize but impossible to cure. And so it is with State affairs.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

And you have to understand this, that a prince, especially a new one, cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed, being often forced, in order to maintain the state, to act contrary to faith, friendship, humanity, and religion. “ The Prince, XVIII, 5

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

What remains to be done must be done by you; since in order not to deprive us of our free will and such share of glory as belongs to us, God will not do everything himself.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

[...T]he ways of God have been manifested beyond example: the sea is divided, the cloud has led the way, the rock has poured forth water, it has rained manna, everything has contributed to your greatness; you ought to do the rest. God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

... By disarming, you at once give offense, since you show your subjects that you distrust them, either as doubting their courage, or as doubting their fidelity, each of which imputations begets hatred against you.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

... On the whole, the best fortress you can have, is in not being hated by your subjects. If they hate you no fortress will save you...

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Only those means of security are good are certain are lasting that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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

~ Niccolò Machiavelli

Where the willingness is great the difficulties cannot be great.

~ Niccolò Machiavelli