Machiavelli Quotes

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

The ends justify the means.

The nature of peoples is variable, and whilst it is easy to persuade them, it is difficult to fix them in that persuasion

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