Niccolo Machiavelli famous quotes

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Humorous #Opportunity #Differences

Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Soldier #Gold

It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating changes. The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is lukewarm ... partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Change #Men #Order

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Wise #Wisdom #Opportunity

Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Art #War #Men

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#War #Ends #Please

Never was anything great achieved without danger.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Success #Philosophical #Danger

Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Simple #Men #Political

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Wisdom #Eye #Reality

Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Men #Brave #Training

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

#Change #Philosophical #Moving Forward

Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Passion #Past #Men

When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Confidence #Gun #People

A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Men #Acting #Way

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Simple #Men #Hype

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Work #Philosophical #Men

Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Men #Sight #Judging

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Love #Witty #Powerful

There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Intelligent #Appreciate #Intelligence

It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Philosophical #Men #Honor

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Government #Elements #Literature

A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Father #Loss #Son

If the chief party, whether it be the people, or the army, or the nobility, which you think most useful and of most consequence to you for the conservation of your dignity, be corrupt, you must follow their humor and indulge them, and in that case honesty and virtue are pernicious.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Honesty #Party #Army

A prince is also esteemed when he is a true friend and a true enemy.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#True Friend #Enemy

Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Motivational #Power #Soul

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.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Simple #Men #Good Man

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Motivational #Philosophical #Art Of War

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Change #Success #Philosophical

Politics have no relation to morals.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Political #Nerd #Politics

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Hate #Philosophical #Evil

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Revenge #Men #Done

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Crazy #War #Wish

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

#Philosophical #Want #Not Interested

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Revenge #Men #Hustle

Before all else, be armed.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Peace #War #Philosophical

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Life #Positive #Birthday

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Philosophical #Opportunity #Tardiness

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Philosophical #Art Of War #Promise

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Business #War #Philosophical

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Truth #Reality #Majority

There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Men #Way #Flattery

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.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Revenge #Badass #Bad Ass

The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so that the desire being always greater than the acquisition, there results discontent with the possession and little satisfaction to themselves from it. From this arises the changes in their fortunes; for as men desire, some to have more, some in fear of losing their acquisition, there ensues enmity and war, from which results the ruin of that province and the elevation of another.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Art #War #Men

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Inspirational #Change #Leadership

There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Religious #Important

There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Art #War #Men

Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#War #Evil #Causes

God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#God #Philosophical #Art Of War

There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Peace #War #Military

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Country #Philosophical #Religion

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

#Literature #May #Gains

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Law #Needs #Moral

He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must thereafter fall with the greatest loss.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Fall #Ambition #Loss

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Men #Law #Giving

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Happy #Men #Honor

In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Art #War #Spring

And what physicians say about disease is applicable here: that at the beginning a disease is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but as time passes, not having been treated or recognized at the outset, it becomes easy to diagnose but difficult to cure. The same thing occurs in affairs of state; for by recognizing from afar the diseases that are spreading in the state (which is a gift given only to a prudent ruler), they can be cured quickly; but when they are not recognized and are left to grow to the extent that everyone recognizes them, there is no longer any cure.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Disease #Afar #Prudent

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Love #Philosophical #Men

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Law #Literature #Politics

Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Eye #Men #Hands

A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.
-- Niccolo Machiavelli

#Art #War #Archer