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Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

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
Nature
Lesser
Distinguish
Choosing
Consists
Trouble
Wisdom
Knowing
Evil

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

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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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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 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 return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.
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A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
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Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves
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You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.
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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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There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.
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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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Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
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Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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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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One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.
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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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The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
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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 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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The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.
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