A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Topics: Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues...

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues...

Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand...

There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand...

For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of...

For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of...

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones,...

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones,...

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.

It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.

It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity...

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity...

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily...

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily...

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be...

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be...

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries...

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries...

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

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

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when...

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when...

There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.

There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.

When you disarm your subjects you offend them by showing that either from cowardliness or...

When you disarm your subjects you offend them by showing that either from cowardliness or...

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom...

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom...

Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.

Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.

Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an...

Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an...

When childhood dies, its corpses are called adults and they enter society, one of the...

When childhood dies, its corpses are called adults and they enter society, one of the...

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem....

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem....