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It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline.

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
Order
Begin
Allowing
Afterward
Nature
Subjects
Confusion
Provinces
States
Greatest
Affair
Amid
May
Courses
Pass
Mundane
Even
Course
Subject
Arrived
State
Perfection
Observed
War
Continue
Decline
Recur
Art
Soon
Affairs
Vicissitudes

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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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Where the very safety of the country depends upon the resolution to be taken, no consideration of justice or injustice, humanity or cruelty, nor of glory or of shame, should be allowed to prevail. But putting all other considerations aside, the only question should be: What course will save the life and liberty of the country?
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He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.
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How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.
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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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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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There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.
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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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Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.
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There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.
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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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All the States and Governments by which men are or ever have been ruled, have been and are either Republics or Princedoms.
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God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
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I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.
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As all those have shown who have discussed civil institutions, and as every history is full of examples, it is necessary to whoever arranges to found a Republic and establish laws in it, to presuppose that all men are bad and that they will use their malignity of mind every time they have the opportunity.
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Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.
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To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one must be of the people.
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Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.
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