Quotes & anectdotes from
the wise,
the foolish,
the courageous &
the drunk

Niccolo Machiavelli Philosopher

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: Italy
  • Born: May 3, 1469
  • Died: Jun 21, 1527

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He was for many years an official in the Florentine Republic, with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He was a founder of modern political science, and more specifically political ethics. 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 the Medici were out of power. He wrote his masterpiece, The Prince, after the Medici had recovered power and he no longer held a position of responsibility in Florence. His views on the importance of a strong ruler who was not afraid to be harsh with his subjects and enemies were most likely influenced by the Italian city-states, which due to a lack of unification were very vulnerable to other unified nation-states, such as France.

"Machiavellianism" is a widely used negative term to characterize unscrupulous politicians of the sort Machiavelli described in The Prince.

War is just when it is necessary arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.

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

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

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

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

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.

It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

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

Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.

There is no avoiding war it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.

Politics have no relation to morals.

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.