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A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
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
Would
Ought
Wise
Literature
Interest
Faith
Ruler
Keep
Rulers
Reality
Philosophical
Never
Interests
More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli
Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities.
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Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.
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A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and its ordering and discipline because it is the only art that pertains to him who commands. And it is of such virtue that not only does it maintain those who were born princes, but many times makes men rise to that rank from private station.
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Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold.
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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.
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A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible.
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There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.
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When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.
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Men seldom rise from low condition to high rank without employing either force or fraud, unless that rank should be attained either by gift or inheritance.
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Cruelties should be committed all at once.
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Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.
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For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of good manners that law may be maintained.
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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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Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.
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Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.
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But in Republics there is a stronger vitality, a fiercer hatred, a keener thirst for revenge. The memory of their former freedom will not let them rest so that the safest course is either to destroy them, or to go and live in them.
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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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The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
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To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.
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Republics have a longer life and enjoy better fortune than principalities, because they can profit by their greater internal diversity. They are the better able to meet emergencies.
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