Quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli

“It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles.””

“The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.””

“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command””

“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.””

“Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.””

“There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.””

“Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.””

“And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.””

“It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones. ””

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

“Appear as you may wish to be””

“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””

“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.””