Quotes By Machiavelli

“ ...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it. ”

“ Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society. ”

“ Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear. ”

“ The first way to lose a state is to neglect the art of war; the first way to gain a state is to be skilled in the art of war. ”

“ It is a common fault not to anticipate storms when the sea is calm. ”

“ He who thinks new favors will cause great personages to forget old injuries deceives himself. ”

“ It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. ”

“ Since love and fear can hardly exist together if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved. ”

“ There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others. ”

“ We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed. ”

“ Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain. ”

“ 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. ”