Quote collection
389 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains."
"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."
"It ought to be remembered that 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. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them."
"Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul."
"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."
"Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear."
"Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold."
"Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration."
"The ends justifies the means."
"Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy."
"There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious."
"Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer."
"Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions."
"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared."
"There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt."
"A prince... must learn from the fox and the lion... One must be a fox in order to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves. Those who act simply as lions are stupid. So it follows that a prudent ruler cannot, and must not, honour his word when it places him at a disadvantage and when the reasons for which he made his promise no longer exist."
"A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes."
"It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver."
"Never was anything great achieved without danger."
"The state is not an organism capable of bringing either moral or material improvements to the populace...but merely a vehicle of power for the men and party in power."