Niccolo Machiavelli — Philosophical Quotes

253 quotes · Political Philosopher, Historian

Page 11 of 22

Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

All Philosophical Courageous Wise Confident Angry 253 quotes · page 11 of 22

Niccolo Machiavelli

Political Philosopher, Historian

Philosophical

“Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.”

Men Trying Numbers

♥ 10

Niccolo Machiavelli

Political Philosopher, Historian

Philosophical

“....for friendships that are acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of character are purchased but are not owned, and at the proper moment they cannot be spent.”

Character Politics Greatness

♥ 10

Philosophical

“He who builds on the people, builds on the mud”

People Mud

♥ 9

Philosophical

“Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.”

War Evil

♥ 9

Philosophical

“All the armed prophets conquered; all the unarmed ones perished.”

Clarity Prophet

♥ 9

Philosophical

“And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and so, as I said above, if a prince wishes to maintain the state, he is often obliged not to be good; because whenever that group which you believe you need to support you is corrupted, whether it be the common people, the soldiers, or the nobles, it is to your advantage to follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them; and then good actions are your enemy.”

Believe Mean Order

♥ 10

Philosophical

“I am firmly convinced, therefore, that to set up a republic which is to last a long time, the way to set about it is to constitute it as Sparta and Venice were constituted; to place it in a strong position, and so to fortify it that no one will dream of taking it by a sudden assault; and, on the other hand, not to make it so large as to appear formidable to its neighbors. It should in this way be able to enjoy its form of government for a long time. For war is made on a commonwealth for two reasons: to subjugate it, and for fear of being subjugated by it.”

Art Dream Strong

♥ 10

Philosophical

“Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.”

Men Art War

♥ 10

Philosophical

“All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation.”

Art Race Ignorant

♥ 10

Philosophical

“(A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.”

Should Reason Interest

♥ 10

Philosophical

“By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.”

People Promise Brave

♥ 9

Philosophical

“You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes.”

People

♥ 9