Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

Quotes about:

• A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Ignorance, Intelligence, Awareness

  241 Copy quote

• A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Government, Doe, Citizens

  303 Copy quote

• Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Always Wrong, Hinges

  228 Copy quote

• 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.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Lions, Foxes, Traps

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.55, Knickerbocker Classics

  365 Copy quote

• Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Inspirational, Relationship, Marketing

  344 Copy quote

• The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Work, Philosophical, Men

  "The Prince". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli, Ch. 22, 1513.

  374 Copy quote

• One of the great secrets of the day is to know how to take possession of popular prejudices and passions, in such a way as to introduce a confusion of principles which makes impossible all understanding between those who speak the same language and have the same interests.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Passion, Confusion, Understanding

  280 Copy quote

• it is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Regret, Repent

  195 Copy quote

• Politics have no relation to morals.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Political, Nerd, Politics

  186 Copy quote

• 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

  Mistake, Ambition, Greatness

  "The Prince". Book by Niccolò Machiavelli, chapter III: Of Mixed Princedoms, 1513.

  34 Copy quote

• Women are the most charitable creatures, and the most troublesome. He who shuns women passes up the trouble, but also the benefits. He who puts up with them gains the benefits, but also the trouble. As the saying goes, there's no honey without bees.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Benefits, Honey, Gains

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2009). “The Essential Writings of Machiavelli”, p.456, Modern Library

  357 Copy quote

• Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Assuming, Conspiracy, Incompetence

  94 Copy quote

• Never do an enemy a small injury.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Military, Bad Ass, Enemy

  18 Copy quote

• Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Humorous, Opportunity, Differences

  320 Copy quote

• I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Death, Kings, Heaven

  329 Copy quote

• Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Men, Numbers, Trying

  272 Copy quote
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  Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Wisdom, Eye, Reality

  104 Copy quote

• You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his mediocrity prevents him from being a threat to others. And for this reason a democracy is never governed by the most competent, but rather by those whose insignificance will not jeopardize anyone else's self-esteem.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Self Esteem, Men, Democracy

  221 Copy quote

• You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Fighting

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.55, Knickerbocker Classics

  31 Copy quote

• Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Stupid, Men, Needs

  306 Copy quote

• There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Religious, Important, Appearing

  "Machiavelli's The Prince, part 6: was Machiavelli an atheist?" by Nick Spencer, www.theguardian.com. April 30, 2012.

  102 Copy quote

• The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Wise, Wisdom, Opportunity

  133 Copy quote

• A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Peace, War, Mistake

  79 Copy quote

• There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Country, Philosophical, Religion

  21 Copy quote

• The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Evil, Leader, Should

  12 Copy quote

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