Quotes from Francesco Guicciardini

How much luckier than all the rest of mankind are the astrologers who, if they tell one truth among a hundred lies, obtain so much credit that even their lies are believed.

To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man's heart.

One who imitates what is bad always goes beyond his model; while one who imitates what is good always comes up short of it.

He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short.

As it is our nature to be more moved by hope than fear, the example of one we see abundantly rewarded cheers and encourages us far more than the sight of many who have not been well treated disquiets us.

Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.

To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man's heart.

Few revolutions succeed, and when they do, you often discover they did not gain what you hoped for, and you condemn yourself to perpetual fear, as the parties you defeated may always regain power and work for your ruin.

Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.

I know no man who feels deeper disgust than I do at the ambition, avarice, and profligacy of the priesthood, as well because every one of these vices is odious in itself, as because each of them separately and all of them together are utterly abhorrent in men making profession of a life dedicated to God.

Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed.