Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes & Sayings (Page 4)

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

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

“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.”

“The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.”

“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 prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.”

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

“No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.”

“Before all else, be armed.”

“It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.”