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

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Topics: Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

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...

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 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...

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more...

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more...

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,...

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of...

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of...

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 wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

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...

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver...

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver...

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that...

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that...

Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than...

Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than...

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack,...

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack,...

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.

A son could bear complacently the death of his father while the loss of his...

A son could bear complacently the death of his father while the loss of his...

I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.

I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.

It's passionately interesting for me that the things that I learned in a small town,...

It's passionately interesting for me that the things that I learned in a small town,...

A good friend of my son's is a son to me.

A good friend of my son's is a son to me.