Quote

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

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
Concerned
Stupid
Present
Needs
Always
Men
Deceived

More quotes by 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
Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Although deceit is detestable in all other things, yet in the conduct of war it is laudable and honorable and a commander who vanquishes an enemy by stratagem is equally praised with one who gains victory by force.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
States that rise quickly, just as all the other things of nature that are born and grow rapidly, cannot have roots and ramifications the first bad weather kills them
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
It makes him hated above all things, as I have said, to be rapacious, and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects, from both of which he must abstain.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Fear is secured by a dread of punishment.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Appear as you may wish to be
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Never do your enemy a minor injury.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Hence it happened that all the armed prophets conquered, all the unarmed perished. [It., Di qui nacque che tutti li profeti armati vincero, e li disarmati rovinarono.]
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Image
When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.
Niccolo Machiavelli