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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
Things
Success
Difficulty
Difficult
Lead
Incredulity
Inspirational
Leadership
Perilous
Order
Military
Lukewarm
Hands
Democracy
Defenders
Change
Hand
Introduction
Nothing
Politics
Uncertain
Take
Freedom
Conduct

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Is it better to be loved or feared?
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Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.
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Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.
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Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.
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it is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.
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Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself for that power is produced by him either through craft or force and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.
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There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.
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Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.
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...it is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valor.
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The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.
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The world has always been the same and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.
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Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious, a prince must consider it of little importance if he incurs the name of miser, for this is one of the vices that permits him to rule.
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And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined.
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You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his mediocrity prevents him from being a threat to others. And for this reason a democracy is never governed by the most competent, but rather by those whose insignificance will not jeopardize anyone else's self-esteem.
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Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.
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When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.
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He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.
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Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.
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A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.
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A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
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