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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

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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
Keep
Affairs
Emulate
Others
Nearly
Tracks
Cannot
Entirely
Prudent
Great
Affair
Imitate
Even
Track
Proceed
Made
Models
Footsteps
Always
Follow
Outstanding
Prowess
Men
Though
Imitation
Imitating

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For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.
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All the States and Governments by which men are or ever have been ruled, have been and are either Republics or Princedoms.
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The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.
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Is it better to be loved or feared?
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Where the very safety of the country depends upon the resolution to be taken, no consideration of justice or injustice, humanity or cruelty, nor of glory or of shame, should be allowed to prevail. But putting all other considerations aside, the only question should be: What course will save the life and liberty of the country?
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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
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He who builds on the people, builds on the mud
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Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself for that power is produced by him either through craft or force and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.
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It is better to be adventurous than cautious, because fortune is a woman.
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It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.
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Cruelties should be committed all at once.
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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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Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.
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To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.
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The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
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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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Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.
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