Niccolo Machiavelli

But while it was their opportunities that made these men fortunate, it was their own merit that enabled them to recognize these opportunities and turn them to account, to the glory and prosperity of their country.

Niccolo Machiavelli

By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Change has no constituency.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Cruelties should be committed all at once.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in antiquity.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Everything that occurs in the world, in every epoch, has something that corresponds to it in ancient times.

Niccolo Machiavelli