Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer. Machiavelli is best known for writing The Prince, a handbook for unscrupulous politicians.
He was a founder of modern political science, and more specifically political ethics.
Born: May 3, 1469, Florence, Italy
Died: June 21, 1527, Florence, Italy
Never was anything great achieved without danger.
Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.
The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.
It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles.
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
Appear as you may wish to be.
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.
War cannot be avoided; it can only be postponed to the other’s advantage.
God creates men, but they choose each other.
