Niccolò Machiavelli
A diplomat and political theorist, author of 'The Prince', which offered a realistic and often cynical view of politics.
Quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
The end justifies the means.
Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them, they take vengeance, whereas if you destroy them, they cannot do so.
For a man who wants to make a profession of good in all regards must come to ruin among so many who are not good.
A wise prince, therefore, will consider how he can avoid making himself hated by anyone, and if he cannot do so, he will at least avoid making himself hated by the most powerful.
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than to make men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.
Hence it comes about that all armed prophets have conquered and unarmed ones have been destroyed.
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
The vulgar are always taken by appearances and by the outcome of a thing; and in the world there are only the vulgar.
A prince must have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its organization and discipline.
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
One change always leaves the way open for the introduction of others.
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not as necessity requires.
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.
The way to hell is paved with good intentions.
He who builds on the people, builds on mud.