Inspirational Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli (Florentine Political Philosopher)

Inspirational Quotations by Niccolo Machiavelli (Florentine Political Philosopher)

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469–1527) was a Florentine statesman, political philosopher, and dramatist.

Machiavelli was born in Florence to an aristocratic family. Not much is known of the first half of his life. After holding high office in Florence as an administrator for diplomacy and warfare, and later as an ambassador, he was exiled by the Medicis on suspicion of conspiracy.

Machiavelli is best known for his Il Principe (The Prince, 1532) a manual on obtaining and holding onto power. The Prince advises leaders that, in a harsh political world, the acquisition and the effective use of power may sometimes require unethical and deceitful methods that are not in and of themselves desirable.

Machiavelli is considered the originator of the philosophy of political pragmatism wherein “the ends justify the means” and morality is irrelevant. His writings and career are subject to varied interpretations. The term Machiavellian—used to describe cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous political behavior—arose from a misunderstanding that he advocated evil for its own sake.

Machiavelli’s other principal political and historical works include Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Livio (A Commentary on the First Ten Books of Livy, c.1516–19,) Dell’arte Della Guerra (On the Art of War, 1519–20,) and Istorie Fiorentine (A History of Florence, c.1520–25.) He also wrote the Italian Renaissance comedy Mandragola (The Mandrake Root, c.1518,) and a novella, a few satirical poems, and an impressive collection of letters.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Niccolo Machiavelli

Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Power, Performance

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Fortune

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Intelligence

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Promises

I certainly think that it is better to be impetuous than cautious, for fortune is a woman, and it is necessary if you wish to master her, to conquer her by force.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Fortune

A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one’s own ignorance.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Intelligence

Injuries should be done all together, so that being, less tasted, they will give less offense. Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Opportunities

It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Perception

No one should be astonished if in the following discussion of completely new princedoms and of the prince and of government, I bring up the noblest examples. Because, since men almost always walk in the paths beaten by others and carry on their affairs by imitating even though it is not possible to keep wholly in the paths of others or to attain the ability of those you imitate prudent man will always choose to take paths beaten by great men and to imitate those who have been especially admirable, in order that if his ability does not reach theirs, at least it may offer some suggestion of it; and he will act like prudent archers, who, seeing that the mark they plan to hit is too far away and knowing what space can be covered by the power of their bows, take an aim much higher than their mark, not in order to reach with their arrows so great a height, but to be able, with the aid of so high an aim, to attain their purpose.
—Niccolo Machiavelli

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Weapon, War

Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Evil

God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Will, Willpower, Will Power

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Vengeance

Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see, but only a few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are, and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Judges, Judging, Justice, Judgment

There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new order of things….. Whenever his enemies have occasion to attack the innovator they do so with the passion of partisans, while the others defend him sluggishly so that the innovator and his party alike are vulnerable.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Leadership

He who is the cause of another’s advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Waste

It should be noted that when he seizes a state the new ruler ought to determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He should inflict them once and for all, and not have to renew them every day.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: War

There are three kinds of brains: One understands of itself, another can be taught to understand, and the third can neither understand to itself or be taught to understand.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Understanding

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Decisions

Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Judges, Judgment, Judging

In our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.
—Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Ignorance

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Virtues, Virtue, Goodness

Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful of danger and covetous of gain.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Man

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Leadership, Leaders

From this we learn that a wise prince sees to it that never, in order to attack someone, does he become the ally of a prince more powerful than himself, except when necessity forces him, as I said above. If you win, you are the powerful kings prisoner, and wise princes avoid as much as they can being in other mens power.
—Niccolo Machiavelli

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Greed

Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach, we are never satisfied.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Ambition

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Danger

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.
—Niccolo Machiavelli
Topics: Happiness, Honor