Quote

The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under the old, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Done
Defenders
Conservatism
Enemies
Enemy
Politics
Incredulity
May
Innovator
Wells
Lukewarm
Well
Innovators

More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

Image
Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the tracks of others or emulate the prowess of their models. So a prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Impetuosity and audacity often achieve what ordinary means fail to achieve.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, to do so when there is a proper justification and manifest reason for it but above all he must abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
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.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
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.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in truth been known to exist the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done learns the way to self-destruction rather than self-preservation.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
The world has always been the same and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
Niccolo Machiavelli