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There are three kinds of brains: One understands of itself, another can be taught to understand, and the third can neither understand to itself or be taught to understand.

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
Neither
Taught
Brain
Understanding
Understands
Understand
Brains
Three
Third
Another
Thirds
Kind
Kinds

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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.
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For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.
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People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.
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Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold.
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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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Never do your enemy a minor injury.
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Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.
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Men are of three different capacities: one understands intuitively another understands so far as it is explained and a third understands neither of himself nor by explanation. The first is excellent, the second, commendable, and the third, altogether useless.
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A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.
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Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.
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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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Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
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Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.
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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.
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the wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour.
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There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.
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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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A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
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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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Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.
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