40 quotes
Italian diplomat and political and military theorist (1469–1527)
“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.”
"It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both."
on Leadership
"There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt."
on Religion
"Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others."
on Ambition
"Politics have no relation to morals."
on Ethics
"A prince need take little account of conspiracies if the people are disposed in his favor."
"A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests."
"Those who believe that where great personages are concerned new favors cause old injuries to be forgotten deceive themselves."
on Wisdom
"Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear."
on Politics
"He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command."
"It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity."
"Armour belonging to someone else either chops off you or weighs you down or is too tight"
on Identity
"Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain."
on Life
"Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great."
on Courage
"Never do an enemy a small injury."
"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."
"Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil."
on Philosophy
"Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times."
on Success
"Never was anything great achieved without danger."
"In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast."
on Relationships
"The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present."
on Truth
