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There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.

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
Society
Nature
Seems
Nothing
Much
Inclined

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

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You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes.
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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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It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.
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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 rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.
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The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
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...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.
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I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lacking.
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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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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
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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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For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying
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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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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.
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Impetuosity and audacity often achieve what ordinary means fail to achieve.
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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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There are three kinds of brains. The one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others.
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There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.
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Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.
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