Niccolo Machiavelli

A prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. If read more

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.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.

each candidate behaved well in the hope of being judged worthy of election. However, this system was disastrous when the read more

each candidate behaved well in the hope of being judged worthy of election. However, this system was disastrous when the city had become corrupt. For then it was not the most virtuous but the most powerful who stood for election, and the weak, even if virtuous, were too frightened to run for office.

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good read more

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms - you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow

I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for read more

I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself