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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.
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
Cannot
Ruler
Reason
Rulers
Would
Holds
Interests
Longer
Word
Interest
Keep
Pledged
More quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli
One should never allow chaos to develop in order to avoid going to war, because one does not avoid a war but instead puts it off to his disadvantage
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It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.
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There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
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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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So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.
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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.
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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.
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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.
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It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because of the malignity of the times, that this good finally can be done by another more loved in heaven.
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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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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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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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To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one must be of the people.
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Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours.
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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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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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There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.
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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
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The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.
Niccolo Machiavelli
