Niccolò Machiavelli; the maxims

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

For men change their rulers willingly, hoping to better themselves

Because the prince, with little reluctance, takes the opportunity of the rebellion to punish the delinquents, to clear out the suspects, and to strengthen himself in the weakest places.

And he who does not properly manage this business will soon lose what he has acquired,

That he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that predominancy has been brought about either by astuteness or else by force, and both are distrusted by him who has been raised to power.

That men ought to be well treated or crushed, because they can avail themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.

Whenever those states which have been acquired as stated have been accustomed to live under their own laws and in freedom, there are three courses for those who wish to hold them; the first is to ruin them.

Nevertheless, he who has relied least on fortune is established the strongest.

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

Hence it is that all armed prophets have conquered and the unarmed ones have been destroyed.

And thus it is necessary to take such measures that, when they believe no longer, it may be possible to make them believe by force.

Those who solely by good fortune become princes from being private citizens have little trouble in rising, but much in keeping atop.

For men injure either from fear or hatred.

He who believes that new benefits will cause great personages to forget old injuries is deceived.

In seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily.

For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that being tasted less, then offend less: benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavor of them may last longer.

Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, then he will always find them faithful.

For it is the nature of men to be bound by the benefits they confer as much as by those they receive.

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.

The mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not; if they are, you cannot trust them, because they always aspire to their own greatness, either by oppressing you, who are their master, or others contrary to your intentions; but if the captain is not skilful, you are ruined in the usual way.

But the scanty wisdom of man, on entering into an affair which looks well at first, cannot discern the poison that is hidden within it,…

A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline;

He ought never, therefore, to have out of his thoughts this subject of war, and in peace he should addict himself more to its exercise than in war.

For a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.

Hence it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity.

Therefore a prince, so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, though too much mercy, allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies; for these are wont to injure the whole people, whilst those executions which originate with a prince offend the individual only.

It is much safer to be feared than loved.

Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed, they are yours entirely.

Men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

A prince, therefore being compelled knowingly to adopt the beast, ought to chose the fox and the lion.

But because they are bad, and will not keep faith with you, you too are not bound to observe it with them.

But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic, and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived.

Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.

To appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.

Everyone one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.

And in the actions of all men, and especially of princes, which it is not prudent to challenge, one judges by the result.

Leave affairs of reproach to the management of others and keep those of grace in their own hands.

Hatred is acquired as much by good works as from bad.

In divided cities you are quickly lost since the weakest party will always assist the outside force.

Without doubt princes become great when they overcome the difficulties and obstacles by which they are confronted….

…a wise prince, when he has the opportunity, ought with craft, to foster some animosity against himself, so that, having crushed it, his renown may rise higher.

…but when everyone may tell you the truth, respect for you abates.

…because men will always prove untrue to you unless they are kept honest by constraint.

…not to extinguish our free will, I hold it to be true that Fortune is the arbiter of one half of our actions…

Fortune, who shows her power where valour has not prepared to resist her, and thither she turns her forces where she knows that barriers and defenses have not been raised to constrain her.

…he will be successful who directs his actions according to the spirit of the times …he whose actions do not accord with the times will not be successful.

She is, therefore, always, woman like, a lover of young men, because they are less cautious, more violent, and with more audacity command her.

God is not willing to do everything, and take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.