Niccolo Machiavelli

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.

Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.

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.

When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.

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.

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

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.

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

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

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.

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

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.

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.