Niccolò Machiavelli quotes - page 2

There are three classes of intellects one which comprehends by itself another which appreciates what others comprehend and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless. (Niccolò Machiavelli)
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed. (Niccolò Machiavelli)
In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
I hold strongly to this: that it is better to be impetuous than circumspect; because fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
And truly it is a very natural and ordinary thing to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will be praised or not blamed; but when they cannot, and wish to do it anyway, here lies the error and the blame. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Is it better to be loved or feared? View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lacking. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body. (Niccolò Machiavelli)
I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but cannot oppose it; that they may weave its warp, but cannot break it. Yet they should never give up, because there is always hope, though they know not the end and more towards it along roads which cross one another and as yet are unexplored; and since there is hope, they should not despair, no matter what fortune brings or in what travail they find themselves. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
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. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli
Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please. View quote
Niccolò Machiavelli