Machiavelli Mercenaries Quotes

One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Fear is as dangerous an enemy as resentment. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Machiavelli says that if as a ruler you accept that your every action must pass moral scrutiny, you will without fail be defeated by an opponent who submits to no such moral test. To hold on to power, you have not only to master the crafts of deception and treachery but to be prepared to use them where necessary. ~ J.M. Coetzee

for men change their rulers willingly, hoping to better themselves, and this hope induces them to take up arms against him who rules: wherein they are deceived, because they afterwards find by experience they have gone from bad to worse. This ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

IT IS customary for such as seek a Prince's favour, to present themselves before him with those things of theirs which they themselves most value, or in which they perceive him chiefly to delight. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

When everyone feels free to tell you the truth, respect for you dwindles ... A wise prince should take another course: choose wise men for your advisors, and allow only them the liberty of speaking the truth to the prince, and only on matters about which you ask, and nothing else. But you should question them about everything, listen patiently to their opinions, then form your own conclusions later. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

I thought there was no use for me in reading Sun Tzu and Machiavelli because I am neither a warrior nor a politician, but it turned out to be useful when I married ~ Bangambiki Habyarimana

Kautilya makes Machiavelli look like Mother Teresa ~ Wendy Doniger

Nowadays, most women wed, bear children, and then plan their children's marriages. Some of the poor might work in the fields, and a rare few are mercenaries or hired soldiers, but … the wealthier they are, the more restricted their freedoms and roles become. You'd think that money would buy you the ability to do whatever you pleased. ~ Sarah J. Maas

In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Her smile turned to one of joy and something he could not quite define. "You really do love me."
"I do." He couldn't help but smile back at her, at the note of wonder in her voice as if she were the lucky one. His finger traced the small dimple in her cheek. "But I doubt you will ever be able to understand how much. My world was a very dark place before you came into it. I am at home in the darkness, and you will likely see traces of it still lingering in the years to come. Intrigues abound in Venice, and I will be vigilant about protecting you. There will likely be times when you see a side of me that is … unpleasant, although hopefully not as unpleasant as the day we encountered the mercenaries. ~ Elizabeth Elliott

Men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

The people, as Cicero says, may be ignorant, but they can recognize the truth and will readily yield when some trustworthy man explains it to them. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Keep fighting, you daughters and sons of goats!" Birgitte yelled, loosing arrows at the mercenaries. "I might be dead, but I'm still your bloody commander, and you will obey orders! ~ Robert Jordan

It is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valor. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

For this is the tragedy of man circumstances change, but he does not. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Prime ministers require the hide of a rhinoceros, the morals of St. Francis, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the leadership of Napoleon, the magnetism of a Beatle and the subtlety of Machiavelli. ~ Lester B. Pearson

I don't think you're cut out for this job. You look like a kid, and Wall Street's no place for kids. It's a place for killers. A place for mercenaries. So in that sense you're lucky I'm not the one who does the hiring around here. ~ Jordan Belfort

He was not a scholar, and he did not have the temperament of one who finds knowledge an end in itself. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

It is in reference to Pope Julius that Machiavelli moralizes on the resemblance between Fortune and women, and concludes that it is the bold rather than the cautious man that will win and hold them both. ~ W.K. Marriott

the best leaders tend to be missionaries rather than mercenaries. ~ Alex Ferguson

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

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. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

For however strong you may be in respect of your army, it is essential that in entering a new Province you should have the good will of its inhabitants. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

[The prince] dare not let ethics keep him from doing whatever evil must be done to preserve himself and the state. ~ Jacques Barzun

... to a Prince who wants to do great things, it is necessary to learn to deceive. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

It makes him hated above all things, as I have said, to be rapacious, and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects, from both of which he must abstain. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because of the malignity of the times, that this good finally can be done by another more loved in heaven. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

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

Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

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 ~ Niccolo Machiavelli