Niccolò Machiavelli Quotes

Italian diplomat and political and military theorist (1469–1527)

Niccolò Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian political philosopher, historian, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright. Machiavelli was also a key figure in realist political theory, crucial to European statecraft during the Renaissance.

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Native Name: Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli

Alternative Names: Nicolas Machiavel • Machiavel • Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli • Niccolo Machiavelli • Nicolò Machiavelli • Nicolo Machiavelli • Machiavelli • N. Machiavelli

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CHAPTER VI
Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms And Ability

LET no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate. A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.

The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.

For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.

Men intrinsically do not trust new things that they have not experienced themselves.

Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.

It's better to be impulsive than cautious; fortune is female and if you want to stay on top of her you have to slap and thrust. You'll see she's more likely to yield that way than to men who go about her coldly. And being a woman she likes her men young, because they're not so cagey, they're wilder and more daring when they master her.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

For it must be noted, that men must either be caressed or else annihilated; they will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones; the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance.

And it ought to be remembered that 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.

Is it better to be loved or feared?

Men desire novelty to such an extent that those who are doing well wish for a change as much as those who are doing badly.

A prudent man will always try to follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been truly outstanding, so that, if he is not quite as skillful as they, at least some of their ability may rub off on him.

For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying

And truly it is a very natural and ordinary thing to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will be praised or not blamed; but when they cannot, and wish to do it anyway, here lies the error and the blame.