Thus it will always happen that he who is not your friend will demand your neutrality, whilst he who is your friend will entreat you to declare yours… - Niccolò Machiavelli
""
Thus it will always happen that he who is not your friend will demand your neutrality, whilst he who is your friend will entreat you to declare yourself with arms.
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.
Biography information from
Wikiquote·
Portrait adapted from
Wikimedia Commons, Santi di Tito (Public domain / CC0)
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
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. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.
How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn the way to his downfall rather than to his preservation.
Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the tracks of others or emulate the prowess of their models. So a prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. If his own prowess fails to compare with theirs, at least it has an air of greatness about it. He should behave like those archers who, if they are skilful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.
