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For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying

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
Sure
Truth
Way
Destroying
Holding

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War brings out thieves and peace hangs them.
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To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.
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The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.
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...it behooves us to adapt oneself to the times if one wants to enjoy continued good fortune.
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A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.
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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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We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean the rest have failed.
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A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war, its institutions, and its discipline because that is the only art befitting one who commands.
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One should never allow chaos to develop in order to avoid going to war, because one does not avoid a war but instead puts it off to his disadvantage
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Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.
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A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.
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In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.
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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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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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And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, to do so when there is a proper justification and manifest reason for it but above all he must abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.
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Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold.
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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.
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He who builds on the people, builds on the mud
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For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.
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