Niccolò Machiavelli

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.

The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, and for this they are praised not blamed; but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame.

For it is a general rule that never or rarely does it happen that a republic or kingdom is well ordered at the beginning, or reformed throughout, without having been ordered by one man.

The people are more honest and more prudent than princes, and the elections of the people are better than those of princes.

Princes who have achieved great things have regarded good faith as of little account, and have known how to circumvent the intellect of men by craft, and in the end have overcome those who have relied on their word.

Nature creates few men brave, industry and training make many.

He who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that power has been effected by him either by art or by force, and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.

It is not unknown to me how many have been and are of opinion that worldly affairs are so governed by fortune and by God that men cannot by their prudence change them, and that on the contrary there is no remedy whatever, and for this they may judge it to be useless to toil much in the matter, but to let things be governed by chance.

A prince should therefore be very careful not to make himself hated, for if he avoids this, he has done his part, and he will not be in danger from the hatred of the people.

The people, when they are not corrupted, are better than a prince.

There are three kinds of intellects: one understands things by itself, another understands what others understand, and the third understands neither by itself nor through others; the first is excellent, the second good, and the third useless.

Men are always more easily led to believe that which they desire.

It is not reason that makes men act, but passion.

The prince who relies entirely on fortune is ruined when fortune changes.

For a man who is not good, if he wishes to maintain himself, must learn to be able to be not good.

In every enterprise consider where you would come out, and in what condition you would be if things should not succeed.

The great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often even more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.

He who is not a good friend to himself, cannot be a good friend to anyone else.

The best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses, they will not save you if you are hated by the people.