Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes on Virtue
Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian Renaissance diplomat, historian, and political philosopher of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, often described as the founder of modern political science. This page collects quotes attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli on the topic of virtue, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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Attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli:
“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”
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Attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli:
“There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that to tell you the truth does not offend you.”
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“Princes who have done great deeds have held their good faith of little account.”
How laudable it is for a prince to keep good faith and live with integrity, and not with astuteness, every one knows. Still the experience of our times shows those princes to have done great things who have had little regard for good faith, and have been able by astuteness to confuse men's brains, and who have ultimately overcome those who have made loyalty their foundation. You must know, then, t -
Attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli:
“A wise prince ought to observe some such rules, and never in peaceful times stand idle, but increase his resources with industry in such a way that they may be available to him in adversity.”
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Attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli:
“Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.”