Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Thoughts and images
A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.
Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.
Always assume incompetence before looking for a conspiracy.
A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.
it is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.
Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
Politics have no relation to morals.
Never do an enemy a small injury.
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
Never was anything great achieved without danger.
There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.
The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.
Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.
Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
The unarmed man is not just defenseless - he is also contemptible.
I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.
A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.
The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
The ends justify the means.
A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.