Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelliwas an Italian Renaissance historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer. He has often been called the founder of modern political science. He was for many years a senior official in the Florentine Republic, with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, and poetry. His personal correspondence is renowned in the Italian language. He was secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512, when...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth3 May 1469
CityFlorence, Italy
CountryItaly
Half of these aren't even Machiavelli. Some are Plato, Thucydides etc....doesnt anyone check these?
For it must be noted, that men must either be caressed or else annihilated; they will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones; the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance.
Never do an enemy a small injury.
Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.
There are three kinds of brains. The one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others.
It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.
Never do your enemy a minor injury.
With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
A blast in the human breast is nothing to boast of.
He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.
....those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.
Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.
Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.
They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.