The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Topics: Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Before all else, be armed.

Before all else, be armed.

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...

Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets...

Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets...

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...

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity...

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity...

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,...

War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope...

War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope...

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less...

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less...

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...

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity...

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity...

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the...

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the...

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

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

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...

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as...

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as...

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

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...

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the...

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the...

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

I never think of myself as wise. I think of myself as possessing a critical...

I never think of myself as wise. I think of myself as possessing a critical...