Top 57 Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.

Before all else, be armed.

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

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.

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.