Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. - Niccolò Machiavelli

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Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.

Niccolò Machiavelli

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About Niccolò Machiavelli

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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Also Known As

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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Originators like Niccolò Machiavelli:

Thucydides Napoleon Benjamin Franklin Plutarch Seneca

Additional quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli

This is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life and children when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you.

For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.

Still, to slaughter fellow-citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of honour, pity, and religion, cannot be counted as merits, for these are means which may lead to power, but which confer no glory.