Cesare Borgia quotes

Cesare Borgia was an Italian nobleman, politician, and military leader, infamous for his ambition and ruthlessness during the Italian Renaissance. Closely associated with the papacy, he was the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and served as inspiration for Machiavelli's "The Prince.” He left a lasting legacy as a symbol of political cunning and the darker side of Renaissance power. Here are 12 of his quotes:

This is what I wanted to tell Monsignor di Volterra [Soderini] when he came to Urbino, but I could not entrust him with the secret. Now that my opportunity has come, I have known very well how to make use of it, and I have done a great service to your masters.

Cesare Borgia

To all our Lieutenants, Castellains, Captains, Condottieri, Officers, Soldiers and Subjects, to whom these presents may be known, we commit and command that to our Most Excellent and Most Beloved Private Architect and General Engineer Leonardo Vinci, bearer of the same, and who has our Commission to survey the holds and fortresses of our States, in order that according to their exigencies and his judgment we may equip them, they are to give free pass, exempt from all public toll to himself and his company, and friendly reception; and to allow him to see, measure and estimate all he may wish. And to this effect they shall order men on his requisition and lend him all the help, assistance and favours he may request, it being our wish that for all works to be done in our Dominions any engineer be compelled to consult him and to conform to his opinion; and to this may none presume to act in opposition, if it be his pleasure not to incur our indignation.

Cesare Borgia

However much Rome may be in the habit of speaking and writing, for my own part, I shall give these libellers a lesson in good manners.

Cesare Borgia

Without any sign of alteration.

Cesare Borgia

There is no city, country-side, or castle, nor any place in all Romagna, nor officer or minister of the duke's, who does not know of these abuses; and, amongst others, the famine of wheat occasioned by the traffic which he held against our express prohibition, sending out such quantities as would abundantly have sufficed for the people and the army.

Cesare Borgia

Diet of bankrupts... To-day, Messer Paolo is to visit me, and to-morrow there will be the cardinal; and thus they think to befool me, at their pleasure. But I, on my side, am only dallying with them. I listen to all they have to say and bide my own time.

Cesare Borgia

This government of yours does not please me, and I cannot trust it; you must change it and give me a pledge that you will observe everything you promised; otherwise you will soon realize that I do not want to live this way; and I will not ...my friend ...my enemy.

Cesare Borgia

A matter which would be easily accomplished, as the best men of that State have already offered themselves to me.

Cesare Borgia

Your brother, Cesar de Borgia, Elect of Valencia.

Cesare Borgia

[I] had not forgotten the way to reconquer it [Urbino].

Cesare Borgia