The quotations of

Niccolò Machiavelli

Florentine statesman, diplomat, and political theorist

1469–1527

20 quotes, most often on Leadership, War & Peace and Motivation & Goals.

Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years.
Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But this must happen in such a way that no one becomes aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand, to be produced immediately.
- Talking
- Truth & Lies
There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first is excellent, the second good, and the third useless.
- Intelligence
For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances as though they were realities. and are often more influenced by things that seem than by those that are.
- Facts
It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.
- Risk
Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach we are never satisfied.
- Motivation & Goals
Government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do it harm.
- Government
War should be the only study of a prince.
- War & Peace
Men rise from one ambition to another. First they seek to secure themselves from attack, and then they attack others.
- War & Peace
Rhis is to be asserted in general of men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed, are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life, and children…when the need is far distant; but when it approaches, they will turn against you.
The PrinceIn context
It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who would gain by the new one.
- Risk
Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed, the same desires and passions.
Discourses on Livy (c. 1517), Book I, Chapter 39
- History
Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot
The Prince (1532), Chapter IIIIn context
- Enemies
- Power
Time drives everything before it, and is able to bring with it good as well as evil, and evil as well as good.
The Prince (1532), Chapter IIIIn context
- Good & Evil
- Time
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.
The Prince (1532), Chapter VIIn context
- Change
- Leadership

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