Francesco Guicciardini
Francesco Guicciardini
Francesco Guicciardiniwas an Italian historian and statesman. A friend and critic of Niccolò Machiavelli, he is considered one of the major political writers of the Italian Renaissance. In his masterpiece, The History of Italy, Guicciardini paved the way for a new style in historiography with his use of government sources to support arguments and the realistic analysis of the people and events of his time...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionHistorian
Date of Birth6 March 1483
CountryItaly
Francesco Guicciardini quotes about
Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.
By numberless examples it will evidently appear that human affairs are as subject to change and fluctuation as the waters of the sea agitated by the winds.
I know no man who feels deeper disgust than I do at the ambition, avarice, and profligacy of the priesthood, as well because every one of these vices is odious in itself, as because each of them separately and all of them together are utterly abhorrent in men making profession of a life dedicated to God.
Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed.
We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.
...be more guided by hope than fear.
Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honourable ways.