Quote

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
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
Order
Begin
Allowing
Afterward

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

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For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.
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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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There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed.
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For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying
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You do not know the unfathomable cowardice of humanity...servile in the face of force, pitiless in the face of weakness, implacable before blunders, indulgent before crimes...and patient to the point of martyrdom before all the violences of bold despotism.
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Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.
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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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Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
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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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I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.
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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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In order not to annul our free will, I judge it true that Fortune may be mistress of one half our actions but then even she leaves the other half, or almost, under our control.
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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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Is it better to be loved or feared?
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Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in antiquity.
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It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.
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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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...it is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valor.
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When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.
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The peasant wants only to be left alone to prosper in peace.
Niccolo Machiavelli