Quotes from Niccolo Machiavelli

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.

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.

When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.

The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold.

Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.

One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.

When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment; when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

It is much better to tempt fortune where it can favor you than to see your certain ruin by not tempting it.

He who makes war his profession cannot be otherwise than vicious. War makes thieves, and peace brings them to the gallows.

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

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

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.

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

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

Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.

The unarmed man is not just defenseless - he is also contemptible.

Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.

God creates men, but they choose each other.

Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

Appear as you may wish to be

Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.

He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed