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A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity.
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
Seems
Compulsion
May
Compelled
Done
Necessity
Much
Acts
Always
However
Men
Seem
Wise
Wisdom
Voluntary
More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli
Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.
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Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.
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It is necessary that the prince should know how to color his nature well, and how to be a hypocrite and dissembler. For men are so simple, and yield so much to immediate necessity, that the deceiver will never lack dupes.
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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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I hope and hoping feeds my pain I weep and weeping feeds my failing heart I laugh but the laughter does not pass within I burn but the burning makes no mark outside.
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A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.
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The world has always been the same and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.
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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.
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Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.
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If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
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He who builds on the people, builds on the mud
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For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.
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The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.
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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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When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.
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For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.
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The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.
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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.
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Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions.
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And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined.
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