Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist, writer, playwright and poet of the Renaissance period. He has often been called the father of modern political philosophy and political science. Profoundly inspirational Niccolo Machiavelli quotes will encourage growth in life, make you wiser and broaden your perspective.
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Famous Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. Niccolo Machiavelli
Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. Niccolò Machiavelli
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. Niccolo Machiavelli
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. Niccolo Machiavelli
Never was anything great achieved without danger. Niccolo Machiavelli
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. Niccolò Machiavelli
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others. Niccolo Machiavelli
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. Niccolò Machiavelli
There are three kinds of intelligence one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless. Niccolo Machiavelli
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you. Machiavelli Niccolo
Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared. Niccolo Machiavelli
Never was anything great achieved without danger. Niccolo Machiavelli
I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. Niccolo Machiavelli
Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception. Niccolò Machiavelli
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. Niccolo Machiavelli
It is much safer to be feared than loved because love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions. Niccolo Machiavelli
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. Niccolo Machiavelli
War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. Niccolo Machiavelli
I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. Machiavelli Niccolo
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear. Niccolò Machiavelli
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. Niccolo Machiavelli
All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger it’s impossible, but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer. Niccolo Machiavelli
The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love. Niccolo Machiavelli
Because there are three classes of intellects one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless. Niccolò Machiavelli
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise. Niccolo Machiavelli
It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles. Niccolò Machiavelli
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us. Niccolo Machiavelli
How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn the way to his downfall rather than to his preservation. Niccolo Machiavelli
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. Niccolo Machiavelli
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Niccolo Machiavelli
To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion. Niccolo Machiavelli
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all. Niccolo Machiavelli
Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved. Niccolo Machiavelli
Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking. Niccolo Machiavelli
The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar. Niccolò Machiavelli
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived. Niccolò Machiavelli
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. Niccolo Machiavelli
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. Niccolò Machiavelli
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. Niccolo Machiavelli
A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways. Machiavelli Niccolo
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. Niccolo Machiavelli
A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get some tinge of it. Niccolo Machiavelli
Before all else, be armed. Niccolo Machiavelli
There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious. Niccolò Machiavelli
The promise given was a necessity of the past the word broken is a necessity of the present. Niccolo Machiavelli
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men rise from one ambition to another first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. Niccolo Machiavelli
Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires. Niccolò Machiavelli
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Niccolo Machiavelli
Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. Niccolò Machiavelli
Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more. Niccolo Machiavelli
And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved. Niccolò Machiavelli
When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred. Niccolo Machiavelli
It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones. Niccolò Machiavelli
A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair. Niccolo Machiavelli
Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are. Machiavelli
One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others. Niccolo Machiavelli
Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil. Niccolò Machiavelli
It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved. Niccolo Machiavelli
It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked. Niccolo Machiavelli
Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. Niccolo Machiavelli
A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration. Niccolo Machiavelli
For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge. Niccolò Machiavelli
Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed. Niccolo Machiavelli
When evening comes, I return home and go into my study. On the threshold I strip off my muddy, sweaty, workday clothes, and put on the robes of court and palace, and in this graver dress I enter the antique courts of the ancients and am welcomed by them, and there I taste the food that alone is mine, and for which I was born. And there I make bold to speak to them and ask the motives of their actions, and they, in their humanity, reply to me. And for the space of four hours I forget the world, remember no vexation, fear poverty no more, tremble no more at death I pass indeed into their world. Niccolo Machiavelli
We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either. Niccolo Machiavelli
He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed. Niccolò Machiavelli
Politics have no relation to morals. Niccolo Machiavelli
There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy. Niccolò Machiavelli
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. Niccolo Machiavelli
In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast. Niccolò Machiavelli
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles. Niccolo Machiavelli
He who builds on the people, builds on the mud. Niccolò Machiavelli
Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries for heavy ones they cannot. Niccolo Machiavelli
Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Niccolò Machiavelli
The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. Niccolo Machiavelli
Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in antiquity. Niccolò Machiavelli
A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands. Niccolò Machiavelli
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant. Niccolò Machiavelli
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt. Niccolo Machiavelli
Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite. Niccolò Machiavelli
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. Niccolo Machiavelli
When evening has come, I return to my house and go into my study. At the door I take off my clothes of the day, covered with mud and mire, and I put on my regal and courtly garments; and decently reclothed, I enter the ancient courts of ancient men, where, received by them lovingly, I feed on the food that alone is mine and that I was born for. There I am not ashamed to speak with them and to ask them the reason for their actions; and they in their humanity reply to me. And for the space of four hours I feel no boredom, I forget every pain, I do not fear poverty, death does not frighten me. I deliver myself entirely to them. Niccolò Machiavelli
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. Niccolo Machiavelli
One can say this in general of men they are ungrateful, disloyal, insincere and deceitful, timid of danger and avid of profit. Love is a bond of obligation that these miserable creatures break whenever it suits them to do so; but fear holds them fast by a dread of punishment that never passes. Niccolò Machiavelli
Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. Niccolo Machiavelli
I conclude therefore that, fortune being changeful and mankind steadfast in their ways, so long as the two are in agreement men are successful, but unsuccessful when they fall out. For my part I consider that it is better to be adventurous than cautious, because fortune is a woman, and if you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill use her; and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurous rather than by those who go to work more coldly. She is, therefore, always, woman like, a lover of young men, because they are less cautious, more violent, and with more audacity command her. Niccolò Machiavelli
The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not. Niccolo Machiavelli
One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up. Niccolo Machiavelli
The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous. Niccolo Machiavelli
I hold strongly to this that it is better to be impetuous than circumspect; because fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her. Niccolo Machiavelli
War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. Niccolo Machiavelli
My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved. Niccolò Machiavelli
Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces. Niccolo Machiavelli
