Niccolò Machiavelli quotes

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. (Niccolò Machiavelli)
I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Never was anything great achieved without danger. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The ends justifies the means. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. (Niccolò Machiavelli)
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it were, in a prison and in servitude, and having by accident got its liberty, not being accustomed to search for its food, and not knowing where to conceal itself, easily becomes the prey of the first who seeks to incarcerate it again. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise. (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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
It is better to be adventurous than cautious, because fortune is a woman. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli