Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

A collection of quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli.

Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He was an Italian Renaissance writer, diplomat, and political philosopher. Machiavelli is best known for his treatise "The Prince," which he wrote in 1513, but he also wrote other notable works such as "Discourses on Livy" and "The Art of War."

Despite his modest upbringing, Machiavelli became involved in the Florentine government and held various diplomatic posts. He served as a diplomat and advisor to the Florentine Republic, frequently conducting diplomatic missions and witnessing the conflicts and machinations of powerful figures.

"The Prince" is considered Machiavelli's most influential work, exploring political theory and advocating for rulers to prioritize effectiveness and stability over moral considerations. This treatise caused controversy due to its pragmatic approach to leadership and its often criticized notion that the ends justify the means.

Machiavelli's ideas made him an infamous figure, and his name is often associated with cunning and deception in politics. His writings had a significant impact on political philosophy and became a subject of study for generations of scholars.

Machiavelli died on June 21, 1527, in Florence. Though initially marginalized after his death, his works gained wider recognition and appreciation in the following centuries. Today, Machiavelli is recognized as a key figure in the development of modern political thought and his ideas continue to be debated and analyzed by scholars worldwide.

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their su

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.

Niccolo Machiavelli


If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

Niccolo Machiavelli


The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, th

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

Niccolo Machiavelli


There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands

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 kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.

Niccolo Machiavelli


Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

Niccolo Machiavelli


The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and co

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.

Niccolo Machiavelli


To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince,

To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.

Niccolo Machiavelli


Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate nee

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.

Niccolo Machiavelli


There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the ad

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

Niccolo Machiavelli


There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilo

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.

Niccolo Machiavelli


Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Men

All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoid

All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Risk Inspire

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves

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

Niccolo Machiavelli

Always Allow Deceived

It should be noted that when he seizes a state the new ruler

It should be noted that when he seizes a state the new ruler ought to determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He should inflict them once and for all, and not have to renew them every day.

Niccolo Machiavelli

War

The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and lik

The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Purpose

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the ba

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him, and must protect himself from those that will not lose it for him, if this is possible; but if he cannot, he need not concern himself unduly if he ignores these less serious vices.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Virtue

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntar

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Wisdom

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

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Virtue

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Promises

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Punctuality