What Niccolò Machiavelli thinks about agency
Florentine political philosopher and diplomat (1469 to 1527); Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512; author of The Prince.
Niccolò Machiavelli did not write this page.
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2 dated positions, c. 1514–1519, in their own words. Our reading of what Niccolò Machiavelli has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Our readingMen may aid Fortune but cannot withstand her
Their wordsBut once more I repeat what, from all history, may be seen to be most true, that men may aid Fortune, but not withstand her; may interweave their threads with her web, but cannot break it
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
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Their wordsAnd hence it results that a man’s fortunes vary, because times change and he does not change with them.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book