Famous Quotes from ...
Niccolo Machiavelli
- 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.... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- There is no other way for securing yourself against flatteries except that men understand that they do not offend you by telling you the truth; but when everybody can tell you the truth, you fail to get respect... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- 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... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- Make no small plans for they have not the power to stir mens blood.... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- A prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. If his own prowess fails to compare with theirs, at least it has an air of greatness about it.... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the tracks of others or emulate the prowess of their models. So a prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. If his own prowess fails to compare with theirs, at least it has an air of greatness about it. He should behave like those archers who, if they are skilful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- No one should therefore fear that he cannot accomplish what others have accomplished, for, men are born, live, and die in quite the same way they always have.... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}
- Wise men say, and not without reason, that whoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.... Niccolo Machiavelli {view}