Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Planning
The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Generosity
To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man’s heart.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Emotions
To rule self and subdue our passions is the more praiseworthy because so few know how to do it.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Self-Control
As it is our nature to be more moved by hope than fear, the example of one we see abundantly rewarded cheers and encourages us far more than the sight of many who have not been well treated disquiets us.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Role models, Feminism
To relinquish a present good through apprehension of a future evil is in most instances unwise … from a fear which may afterwards turn out groundless, you lost the good that lay within your grasp.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Anxiety, Fear, The Future, Tomorrow
Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Friendship
He who imitates evil always goes beyond the example that is set; he who imitates what is good always falls short.
—Francesco Guicciardini
Topics: Imitation
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Dante Alighieri Italian Poet, Philosopher
- Petrarch Italian Scholar
- Giuseppe Mazzini Italian Revolutionary
- E. V. Lucas English Author
- Daniel J. Boorstin American Historian
- B. H. Liddell Hart English Military Journalist, Historian
- Edward Gibbon English Historian
- James Truslow Adams American Historian
- James Anthony Froude British Historian
- Jacques Barzun American Cultural Historian
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