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

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

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We must distinguish between those who depend on others, that is between those who to achieve their purposes can force the issue and those who must use persuasion. In the second case, they always come to grief, having achieved nothing when, however, they depend on their own resources and can force the issue, then they are seldom endangered.
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Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.
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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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The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
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A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.
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Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.
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It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because of the malignity of the times, that this good finally can be done by another more loved in heaven.
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There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.
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If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.
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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation.
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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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So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.
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Violence must be inflicted once for all people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually and in that way they will taste better.
Niccolo Machiavelli
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To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.
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Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.
Niccolo Machiavelli
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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.
Niccolo Machiavelli
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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
Niccolo Machiavelli
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Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.
Niccolo Machiavelli