Niccolo Machiavelli Philosophy Quotes & Sayings

Ignorance can't be pardoned. Only cured. — Robert Silverberg

In athletics, the idea of possibility is presumed. It's not 'if;' it's 'how.' — Aimee Mullins

Come here, Grimaud," said Athos. To punish you for having spoken without leave my friend, you must eat this piece of paper: then, to reward you for the service which you will have rendered us, you shall afterwards drink this glass of wine. Here is the letter first: chew it hard."
Grimaud smiled, and with his eyes fixed on the glass which Athos filled to the very brim, chewed away at the paper, and finally swallowed it.
"Bravo, Master Grimaud!" said Athos. "and now take this. Good! I will dispense with your saying thank you."
Grimaud silently swallowed the glass of Bordeaux; but during the whole time that this pleasant operation lasted, his eyes, which were fixed upon the heavens, spoke a language which, though mute, was not therefore the least expressive. — Alexandre Dumas

Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless. — Niccolo Machiavelli

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. — Niccolo Machiavelli

No soldier outlives a thousand chances. But every soldier believes in Chance and trusts his luck. — Erich Maria Remarque

Is it better to be loved or feared? — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge. — Niccolo Machiavelli

I lived in London for small amounts of time, and in Florida and New York. — Alex Prager

I hold strongly to this: that it is better to be impetuous than circumspect; because fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her. — Niccolo Machiavelli

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

T happens in all human affairs that we never seek to escape one mischief without falling into another. Prudence therefore consists in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage, and in accepting a less evil as a good. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Bollywood is a strange world. — Cyrus Broacha

That kind of devotion, that kind of sacrifice, came from a deeply selfless soul. It came from someone who loved hard and loved forever. — Dakota Cassidy

A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get some tinge of it. — Niccolo Machiavelli

A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought ... but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; — Niccolo Machiavelli

For he who quells disorder by a very few signal examples will in the end be more merciful than he who from too great leniency permits things to take their course and so to result in rapine and bloodshed; for these hurt the whole State, whereas the severities of the Prince injure individuals only. — Niccolo Machiavelli

I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles. — Niccolo Machiavelli

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

Injuries, therefore, should be inflicted all at once, that their ill savour being less lasting may the less offend; whereas, benefits should be conferred little by little, that so they may be more fully relished. — Niccolo Machiavelli

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

What is the origin of God? — John Clayton

Dowry doesn't rhyme with many words, so I had to rhyme dowry and peach tree [ ... ] My nephew will inherit the estate, but the orchards are unentailed and will go to you. — Eloisa James

You can't read good-night stories to your bank account, or brush its hair, or teach it how to ride a bike for the first time. — Marko Kloos

If in other respects the old condition of things be continued, and there be no discordance in their customs, men live peaceably with one another ... — Niccolo Machiavelli

He looked at the craft beached around him. Shadowless in the vertical sunlight, their rounded forms seemed to have been eroded of all but a faint residue of their original identities, like ghosts in a distant universe where drained images lay in the shallows of some lost time. The — J.G. Ballard