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Men seldom rise from low condition to high rank without employing either force or fraud, unless that rank should be attained either by gift or inheritance.

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
Conditions
Inheritance
Either
Fraud
High
Seldom
Force
Condition
Power
Rise
Without
Lows
Employing
Men
Gift
Attained
Unless
Rank

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

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The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
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One can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain and while you work for their good they are completely yours, offering you their blood, their property, their lives, and their sons when danger is far away but when it comes nearer to you, they turn away.
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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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Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.
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Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.
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A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.
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Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge.
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Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
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A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
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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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Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.
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(A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.
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One arises from a low to a high station more often by using fraud instead of force.
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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.
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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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So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.
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There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.
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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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The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
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Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities.
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