Niccolo Machiavelli Should Quotations

One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.

Cruelties should be committed all at once.

He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.

(A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.

One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.

One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.

There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.

No one should therefore fear that he cannot accomplish what others have accomplished, for, men are born, live, and die in quite the same way they always have.

A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.

The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.