Only the Greatest and the Best Quotes from Niccolo Machiavelli



Quote : "He who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards' but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building."

Quote : "It cannot be called talent to slay fellow-citizens' to deceive friends' to be without faith' without mercy' without religion; such methods may gain empire' but not glory."

Quote : "It is impossible for those who follow the other to maintain themselves."

Quote : "Injuries ought to be done all at one time' so that' being tasted less' they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little' so that the flavour of them may last longer."

Quote : "where a leading citizen becomes the prince of his country' not by wickedness or any intolerable violence' but by the favour of his fellow citizens?this may be called a civil principality: nor is genius or fortune altogether necessary to attain to it' but rather a happy shrewdness. I say then that such a principality is obtained either by the favour of the people or by the favour of the nobles. Because in all cities these two distinct parties are found' and from this it arises that the people do not wish to be ruled nor oppressed by the nobles' and the nobles wish to rule and oppress the people; and from these two opposite desires there arises in cities one of three results' either a principality' self-government' or anarchy."

Quote : "One cannot by fair dealing' and without injury to others' satisfy the nobles' but you can satisfy the people' for their object is more righteous."

Quote : "Because men' when they receive good from him of whom they were expecting evil' are bound more closely to their benefactor."

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