Unflinching Truths Through Quotes: 30+ Machiavelli Quotes

The renowned Italian philosopher and political strategist Niccolo Machiavelli is known for his influential work “The Prince” delving into the art of gaining and maintaining power. This article consists of 30+ Machiavelli quotes that provide invaluable insights into the art of power. These mentioned quotes will shed light on Machiavelli’s timeless wisdom and help them to navigate the complexities of the modern world. 

20+ Thought for the Day About Life – Live Each Day

Machiavelli Quotes About Rationality

• “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you are.”
  
• “It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both.”
  
• “The Prince” While not a direct quote, The Prince is Machiavelli’s seminal work on political strategy and remains a controversial but influential book.
  
• “One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.”

• “There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.”
  
• “Never was anything great achieved without danger.”
  
• “Men should either be treated generously or destroyed because they take revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot.”
  
• “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him,”
  
• “The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be both a lion and a fox.”
  
• “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.”

Machiavelli Quotes About Human Desires

• “Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”
  
• “Men are more apt to be annoyed by the deprivation of what they have possessed than by the lack of something they have never had.”

30+ Best Inspiring Swami Vivekananda Quotes

• “A free people cannot acquire an empire; but when possessed of it, they can retain it with greater constancy than princes.”
  
• “It is better to be slow to act than rash; but when you have once acted, go through with your purpose with vigor.”

Deep and Dark Machiavelli Quotes

• “There are no crimes except those which bring disorder.”
  
• “The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.”
  
• “I interested myself in things that were and the causes of them.”
  
• “Because a prince who does not understand how to flatter will never learn how to rule.”
  
• “Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.”
  
• “A free city needs a head, as much as a human body does.”

Leadership Quotes by Machiavelli

• “The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”
  
• “He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.”
  
• “It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.”
  
• “There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.”
  
• “Before all else, be armed.”
  
• “People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge, but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do.”
  
• “No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.”
  

Provoking Machiavelli Quotes

• “One who transgresses the laws to enrich himself will be punished, but one who transgresses them to gain power will be admired.”
  
• “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.”
  
• “It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.”
• “A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways.”
  
• “The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.”
  
• “He who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived.”
  

Quotes by Machiavelli on Power and Ethics

• “It is better to be slow to forgive an injury than an insult.”
  
• “The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar crowd.”
  
• “A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promises.”
  
• “It is much safer to be feared than loved because love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.”
  
• “Never was anything great achieved without danger.”
  
• “Laws should favour the poor rather than the rich.”
  
• “Because fortune is the mistress of half of our actions, but even when she is the mistress, she does not control all of them.”

25+ Inspirational Career Quotes to Boost Your Spirits!

Now you have read it! The best and the brightest Thought for the Day. Write these quotes down or share them with anyone who needs an added dose of inspiration. You can also follow our page for more motivation.