Niccolò Machiavelli quotes

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, philosopher, and writer, best known for his treatise "The Prince." His political theories focused on power, realpolitik, and the practicalities of ruling. He remains a controversial figure, often associated with cunning and strategic statecraft. Here are 209 of his quotes:

He who is a good friend himself also has good friends.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Good deeds as well as bad may incur hatred.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

Niccolò Machiavelli

For men do harm either out of fear or out of hatred.

Niccolò Machiavelli

It is safer to be feared than loved.

Niccolò Machiavelli

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

Niccolò Machiavelli

I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles.

Niccolò Machiavelli

God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

Niccolò Machiavelli

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

Niccolò Machiavelli

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.

Niccolò Machiavelli

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

Niccolò Machiavelli

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

Niccolò Machiavelli

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

Niccolò Machiavelli

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

Niccolò Machiavelli

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

Niccolò Machiavelli

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

Niccolò Machiavelli

The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.

Niccolò Machiavelli

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.

Niccolò Machiavelli

The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it were, in a prison and in servitude, and having by accident got its liberty, not being accustomed to search for its food, and not knowing where to conceal itself, easily becomes the prey of the first who seeks to incarcerate it again.

Niccolò Machiavelli