Niccolo Machiavelli

“There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.”

“There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.”

“Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.”

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

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

“There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.”

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

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”

“Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.”

“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.”

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

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

“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.”

“Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.”

“It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.”

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

“God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.”

“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.”

“Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.”

“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”