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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

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Niccolo Machiavelli
Age: 58 †
Born: 1469
Born: May 3
Died: 1527
Died: June 22
Diplomat
Historian
Military Theorist
Philosopher
Playwright
Poet
Political Theorist
Politician
Translator
Writer
Florence
Tuscany
Nicolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
Nicolò Machiavelli
N. Machiavelli
Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Change
Hand
Introduction
Nothing
Politics
Uncertain
Take
Freedom
Conduct
Things
Success
Difficulty
Difficult
Lead
Incredulity
Inspirational
Leadership
Perilous
Order
Military
Lukewarm
Hands
Democracy
Defenders

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The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.
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God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried.
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It is better to be adventurous than cautious, because fortune is a woman.
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How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.
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Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
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For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.
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Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions.
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One can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain and while you work for their good they are completely yours, offering you their blood, their property, their lives, and their sons when danger is far away but when it comes nearer to you, they turn away.
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Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.
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Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.
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A son could bear with great complacency, the death of his father, while the loss of his inheritance might drive him to despair.
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Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours.
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Where the very safety of the country depends upon the resolution to be taken, no consideration of justice or injustice, humanity or cruelty, nor of glory or of shame, should be allowed to prevail. But putting all other considerations aside, the only question should be: What course will save the life and liberty of the country?
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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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Is it better to be loved or feared?
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For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
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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.
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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.
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