Quote collection
389 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn the way to his downfall rather than to his preservation."
"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."
"A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible."
"Half of these aren't even Machiavelli. Some are Plato, Thucydides etc....doesnt anyone check these?"
"Never do an enemy a small injury."
"One must be a fox to recognize traps and a lion to frighten wolves"
"the wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour."
"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise."
"Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great."
"I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it."
"It is often found that modesty and humility not only do no good, but are positively hurtful, when they are shown to the arrogant who have taken up a prejudice against you, either from envy or from any other cause."
"You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second."
"Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action."
"Conquered states that have been accustomed to liberty and the government of their own laws can be held by the conqueror in three different ways. The first is to ruin them; the second, for the conqueror to go and reside there in person; and the third is to allow them to continue to live under their own laws, subject to a regular tribute, and to create in them a government of a few, who will keep the country friendly to the conqueror"
"Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain."
"Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil."
"Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them."
"A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair."
"Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods."
"There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others."