Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Quotations, and Sayings

19 Famous Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli
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“"Corruption continues with us beyond the grave," She said, "and then plays merry hell with all ideas”
Corruption Quotes
“The chief foundations of all states... are good laws and good arms. And as there cannot be good laws where there are not good arms... where there are good arms there must be good laws...”
Country Quotes
“each candidate behaved well in the hope of being judged worthy of election. However, this system was disastrous when the city had become corrupt. For then it was not the most virtuous but the most powerful who stood for election, and the weak, even if virtuous, were too frightened to run for office.”
Elections Quotes
“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”
Entrepreneurs Quotes
“For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are”
Influence Quotes
“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”
Nations Quotes
“I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself”
Prudence Quotes
“Your son at five is your master, at ten your slave, at fifteen your double, and after that, your friend or your foe, depending on his bringing up”
Sons Quotes
“The chief foundations of all states... are good laws and good arms. And as there cannot be good laws where there are not good arms... where there are good arms there must be good laws...”
Weapons Quotes
“The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms - you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow”
Weapons Quotes
“Since love and fear can hardly coexist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.”
Fear Quotes
“Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach we are never satisfied.”
Ambition Quotes
“Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.”
Favors Quotes
“When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.”
Honor Quotes
“A prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. If his own prowess fails to compare with theirs, at least it has an air of greatness about it.”
Men Quotes
“A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.”
Promises Quotes
“No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.”
Business Quotes
“Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals.”
Law Quotes
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Nature Quotes
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