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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

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
Word
Given
Past
Necessity
Promise
Broken
Present
Literature

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

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There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
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It is necessary that the prince should know how to color his nature well, and how to be a hypocrite and dissembler. For men are so simple, and yield so much to immediate necessity, that the deceiver will never lack dupes.
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For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob.
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A prince is also respected when he is a true friend and a true enemy that is, when he declares himself on the side of one prince against another without any reservation.
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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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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.
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A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.
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Never lead your soldiers to battle if you have not first confirmed their spirit and known them to be without fear and ordered and never test them except when you see that they hope to win.
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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.
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One must consider the final result
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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.
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If the present be compared with the remote past, it is easily seen that in all cities and in all peoples there are the same desires and the same passions as there always were.
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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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There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.
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The ends justifies the means.
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The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
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For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.
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The peasant wants only to be left alone to prosper in peace.
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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.
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