Quotes from Niccolo Machiavelli

pretexts for taking away the property are never wanting; for he who has once begun to live by robbery will always find pretexts for seizing what belongs to others; but

And again, he need not make himself uneasy at incurring a reproach for those vices without which the state can only be saved with difficulty, for if everything is considered carefully, it will be found that something which looks like virtue, if followed, would be his ruin; whilst something else, which looks like vice, yet followed brings him security and prosperity.

The aim of the people is more honest than that of the nobility, the latter desiring to oppress, and the former merely to avoid oppression.

Guerra não se evita, mas se adia em favor de outrem.

prudence consists in knowing how to distinguish the character of troubles, and for choice to take the lesser evil.

Un hombre prudente debe discurrir siempre por las vías trazadas por los grandes hombres e imitar a aquellos que han sobresalido extraordinariamente por encima de los demás, con el fin de que, aunque no se alcance su virtud, algo nos quede, sin embargo, de su aroma.

Quem cria o poder de outrem se arruína, porque tal poder se origina da astúcia ou da força, e ambas são suspeitas a quem se tornou poderoso.

As injúrias devem ser cometidas de uma vez só, de modo que, por sua brevidade, ofendam menos ao paladar; ao passo que os benefícios devem ser feitos aos poucos, para que sejam mais bem saboreados.

Os homens se esquecem com maior rapidez da morte de um pai que da perda de um patrimônio.

comedic playwright.

Os homens são tão simplórios e obedientes às necessidades imediatas que aquele que engana sempre encontrará quem se deixe enganar.

can satisfy the people, for their object is more righteous than that of the nobles, the latter wishing to oppress, while the former only desire not to be oppressed.

Her zaman iyi olmaya çal??an biri, iyi olmayan çok say?da insan?n aras?nda bir y?k?nt? olmaya mahkumdur.

Los hombres rara vez tienen el valor suficiente para ser o extremadamente buenos o extremadamente malos.

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.

The truth is that Machiavelli did try to obtain a position from the Medici, but he did not write The Prince in order to win their favour. 3 He was hoping to be offered a new post in recognition of his unquestionable competence in the 'art of the state' and as a reward for his abilities and impeccable honesty, not as a gift in reward for flattery. As he wrote in the famous letter to Francesco Vettori of 10 December 1513:

men ought ever to desire to be served by one who has reaped experience at the expense of others.

Li quali modi possono fare acquistare imperio, ma non gloria.

Pero un príncipe sabio evitará siempre valerse de unas y de otras y recurrirá a sus propias armas, prefiriendo perder con ellas a ganar con las ajenas.

It is in the nature of things that every time you try to avoid one danger you run into another. Good sense consists in being able to assess the dangers and choose the lesser of various evils.

Así pues, la concepción institucional del poder, la representación, la libertad y el imperio de la ley son los elementos constitutivos de su ideal de vivere civile.

for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil

a los hombres hay que conquistarlos o eliminarlos, porque si se vengan de las ofensas leves, de las graves no pueden; así que la ofensa que se haga al hombre debe ser tal, que le resulte imposible vengarse.

Everyone sees what you appear to be; few experience what you really are.