Francesco Guicciardini Quotes on Knowledge
Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540), the Florentine historian and diplomat, gave Renaissance political thought its sharpest statement of the case for particular over general knowledge in the Ricordi (Maxims), composed and revised across the 1520s and 30s. The maxims press repeatedly the warning that universal rules deceive in the world of political action, where the singular configuration of persons, occasions, and chances must be read directly rather than subsumed under a general theory. The contrast with the more theoretical disposition of his friend Machiavelli is itself the most influential early-modern formulation of the dispute between historical experience and political philosophy.
Quotes
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Attributed to Francesco Guicciardini:
“Let no one trust so much in another's natural goodness as not to fortify himself with reason and prudence.”
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Attributed to Francesco Guicciardini:
“There is no rule that does not have its exception.”
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Attributed to Francesco Guicciardini:
“Discretion in speaking is rarer than wisdom in thinking.”
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“L'imitazione del male supera sempre l'esempio; comme per il contrario, l'imitazione del bene è sempre inferiore.”
He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short. -
“Gli ambasciadori sono l'occhio e l'orecchio degli stati.”
Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states. -
“Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.”
Gli ambasciadori sono l'occhio e l'orecchio degli stati. -
“Non è male alcuno nelle cose umane che non abbia congiunto seco qualche bene.”
There is no evil in human affairs that has not some good mingled with it. -
“Ha sempre dimostrato l'esperienza, e lo dimostra la ragione, che mai succedono bene le cose che dipendono da molti.”
Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed. -
“Con disavvantaggio grande si fa la guerra con chi non ha che perdere.”
We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose. -
“We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.”
Con disavvantaggio grande si fa la guerra con chi non ha che perdere.