Top 250 Niccolò Machiavelli Quotes (2025 Update)
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51. “One should never risk one’s whole fortune unless supported by one’s entire forces.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

52. “There are three kinds of brains. The one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

53. “There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

54. “The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

55. “Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

56. “The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

57. “For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

58. “To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

59. “He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must thereafter fall with the greatest loss.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

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

— Niccolò Machiavelli

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

— Niccolò Machiavelli

62. “One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

63. “Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

64. “For a long time I have not said what I believed, nor do I ever believe what I say, and if indeed sometimes I do happen to tell the truth, I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

65. “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.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

66. “It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

67. “The unarmed man is not just defenseless – he is also contemptible.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

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

— Niccolò Machiavelli

69. “A prince is also esteemed when he is a true friend and a true enemy.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

70. “A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

71. “War brings out thieves and peace hangs them.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

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

— Niccolò Machiavelli

73. “Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

74. “A prince need trouble little about conspiracies when the people are well disposed, but when they are hostile and hold him in hatred, then he must fear everything and everybody.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

75. “Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

76. “Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

77. “One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

78. “He who is the cause of another’s advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

79. “I hope and hoping feeds my pain I weep and weeping feeds my failing heart I laugh but the laughter does not pass within I burn but the burning makes no mark outside.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

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

— Niccolò Machiavelli

81. “Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

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

— Niccolò Machiavelli

83. “Is it better to be loved or feared?”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

84. “It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

85. “Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

86. “By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

87. “He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

88. “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.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

89. “The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

90. “Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

91. “Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

92. “For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of good manners that law may be maintained.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

93. “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.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

94. “With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

95. “A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

96. “The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

97. “In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

98. “Although deceit is detestable in all other things, yet in the conduct of war it is laudable and honorable; and a commander who vanquishes an enemy by stratagem is equally praised with one who gains victory by force.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

99. “Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

100. “Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli