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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.

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
Well
Religious
Qualities
Must
Also
Faithful
Mind
Seems
Opposite
Change
Opposites
Needful
Character
Otherwise
Disposed
May
Thus
Merciful
Able
Seem
Humane
Wells
Quality
Sincere

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How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.
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Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one become aware of it or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.
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No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.
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A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him.
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Is it better to be loved or feared?
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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 a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.
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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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One of the great secrets of the day is to know how to take possession of popular prejudices and passions, in such a way as to introduce a confusion of principles which makes impossible all understanding between those who speak the same language and have the same interests.
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Fear is secured by a dread of punishment.
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When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.
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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
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Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
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For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.
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Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.
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No one should therefore fear that he cannot accomplish what others have accomplished, for, men are born, live, and die in quite the same way they always have.
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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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Benefits should be conferred gradually and in that way they will taste better.
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