35 Quotes & Sayings By Niccolo Machiavelli

Benefits should be granted little by little so that they may be better enjoyed. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed or exempt from danger. Niccolo Machiavelli

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful. Niccolo Machiavelli

Men hesitate less to injure a man who makes himself loved than to injure one who makes himself feared for their love is held by a chain of obligation which because of men's wickedness is broken on every occasion for the sake of selfish profit but their fear is secured by a dread of punishment. Niccolo Machiavelli

Fear is secured by a dread of punishment. Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger. Niccolo Machiavelli

Only those means of security are good are certain are lasting that depend on yourself and your own vigor. Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

War is just when it is necessary arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. Niccolo 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. Niccolo Machiavelli

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds. Niccolo 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. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

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

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

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

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

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

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Niccolo Machiavelli

Politics have no relation to morals. Niccolo 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. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. Niccolo Machiavelli

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

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

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared. Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked. Niccolo Machiavelli

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