Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelliwas an Italian Renaissance historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer. He has often been called the founder of modern political science. He was for many years a senior official in the Florentine Republic, with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, and poetry. His personal correspondence is renowned in the Italian language. He was secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512, when...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth3 May 1469
CityFlorence, Italy
CountryItaly
Let no one oppose this belief of mine with that well-worn proverb: 'He who builds on the people builds on mud
...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.
It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to enslave a people that wants to remain free.
For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.
He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed
In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.
By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.
A prince need trouble little about conspiracies when the people are well disposed, but when they are hostile and hold him in hatred, then he must fear everything and everybody.
You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes...
How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.
To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.
Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.
Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.