Niccolo Machiavelli

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

Niccolo Machiavelli

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.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

Niccolo Machiavelli

War is a profession by which a man cannot live honorably; an employment by which the soldier, if he would reap any profit, is obliged to be false, rapacious, and cruel.

Niccolo Machiavelli

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

Niccolo Machiavelli

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.

Niccolo Machiavelli

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.

Niccolo Machiavelli

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

Niccolo Machiavelli

What remains to be done must be done by you; since in order not to deprive us of our free will and such share of glory as belongs to us, God will not do everything himself.

Niccolo Machiavelli