Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes on Knowledge

Quotes

• “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”

  A variant translation of: "And the first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has around him." - The Prince (1513), Ch. 22

• “Letter to Francesco Vettori (10 December 1513), as translated by James Atkinson, in Prince Machiavelli (1976), p. 19”

  When evening comes, I return home and enter my study; on the threshold I take off my workday clothes, covered with mud and dirt, and put on the garments of court and palace. Fitted out appropriately, I step inside the venerable courts of the ancients, where, solicitously received by them, I nourish myself on that food that alone is mine and for which I was born; where I am unashamed to converse wi

• “In judging policies we should consider the results that have been achieved through them rather than the means by which they have been executed.”

  From an undated letter to Piero Soderini (translated here by Dr. Arthur Livingston), in The Living Thoughts of Machiavelli, by Count Carlo Sforza, published by Cassell, London (1942), p. 85

• “Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge 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.”

  The Prince (1513), Ch. 3

• “The Prince (1513), Ch. 3”

  Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge 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.

• “A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent .”

  ...debbe un uomo prudente entrare sempre per vie battute da uomini grandi, e quelli che sono stati eccellentissimi, imitare...

• “The Prince (1513), Ch. 6; translated by Luigi Ricci”

  ...debbe un uomo prudente entrare sempre per vie battute da uomini grandi, e quelli che sono stati eccellentissimi, imitare...

• “It ought to be remembered that 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. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.”

  The Prince (1513), Ch. 6; translated by W. K. Marriott

• “The Prince (1513), Ch. 6; translated by W. K. Marriott”

  It ought to be remembered that 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. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from f

• “The Prince (1513), Ch. 17, as translated by Luigi Ricci (1903)”

  I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness. ... A prince, therefore, must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and confident; for, with a very few examples, he will be more merciful than those who, from excess of tenderness, allow disorders to arise, from