If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Tag: Niccolo Machiavelli
Total 25 Posts
Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach we are never satisfied.
Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.
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.
There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth; but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.
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, and the third is useless.
Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.
When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the marjority of men live content.