What Niccolò Machiavelli thinks about government
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.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
Filter government · Newest first
Only Niccolò Machiavelli on government. See everyone on government
12 dated positions, c. 1513–1514 to c. 1514–1519, in their own words. Our reading of what Niccolò Machiavelli has said — not written or endorsed by them.
-
Their wordsFor men, if they would judge justly, should esteem those who are, and not those whose means enable them to be generous; and in like manner those who know how to govern kingdoms, rather than those who possess the government without such knowledge.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Our readingRome's tumults led not to banishment or violence but to laws that favoured public liberty
Their wordsFor he who looks well to the results of these tumults will find that they did not lead to banishments, nor to violence hurtful to the common good, but to laws and ordinances beneficial to the public liberty.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsBut we must take it as a rule to which there are very few if any exceptions, that no commonwealth or kingdom ever has salutary institutions given it from the first or has its institutions recast in an entirely new mould, unless by a single person.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsIt may be assumed, however, as most certain, that a corrupted city living under a prince can never recover its freedom, even were the prince and all his line to be exterminated.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsBut as for prudence and stability of purpose, I affirm that a people is more prudent, more stable, and of better judgment than a prince.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsAnd to state the sum of the whole matter shortly, I say that popular governments have endured for long periods in the same way as the governments of princes, and that both have need to be regulated by the laws; because the prince who can do what he pleases is a madman, and the people which can do as it pleases is never wise.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Our readingA commonwealth outlasts a princedom because its varied citizens can adapt to changing times
Their wordsAnd hence it comes that a commonwealth endures longer, and has a more sustained good fortune than a princedom, because from the diversity in the characters of its citizens, it can adapt itself better than a prince can to the diversity of times.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsNow this incident deserves to be noted and pondered over by every citizen who is called on to advise his country; for when the entire safety of our country is at stake, no consideration of what is just or unjust, merciful or cruel, praiseworthy or shameful, must intervene.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsThe other point to be noted is that there is no disgrace in not observing promises wrung from you by force; for promises thus extorted when they affect the public welfare will always be broken so soon as the pressure under which they were made is withdrawn, and that, too, without shame on the part of him who breaks them; of which we read many instances in history, and find them constantly occurring at the present day.
↗Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Ninian Hill Thomson translation, 1883)gutenberg.org All 19 from this book
-
Their wordsFor injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.
↗The Prince (tr. W. K. Marriott, 1908)gutenberg.org All 6 from this book
-
Their wordsIt may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with.
↗The Prince (tr. W. K. Marriott, 1908)gutenberg.org All 6 from this book
-
Their wordsTherefore a wise lord cannot, nor ought he to, keep faith when such observance may be turned against him, and when the reasons that caused him to pledge it exist no longer. If men were entirely good this precept would not hold, but because they are bad, and will not keep faith with you, you too are not bound to observe it with them.
↗The Prince (tr. W. K. Marriott, 1908)gutenberg.org All 6 from this book