Niccolò Machiavelli Quotes, the Renaissance thinker who dissected human nature with ruthless clarity, wrote, “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both”—a chilling maxim that defines his pragmatic legacy. From The Prince to Discourses on Livy, he’s a voice of strategy and survival in a turbulent world. Below are 30 authentic Machiavelli quotes—sourced directly from his works—organized into categories that echo his calculating genius. Every word is pure Machiavelli, verbatim and true!
Power and Leadership
- “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” (The Prince, Chapter 17, p. 54)
- “Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.” (The Prince, Chapter 18, p. 56)
- “He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.” (The Prince, Chapter 14, p. 46)
- “A prince must have no other objective, no other thought, nor take up any profession but that of war.” (The Prince, Chapter 14, p. 47)
- “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” (The Prince, Chapter 22, p. 71)
- “Whoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.” (The Prince, Chapter 25, p. 81)
- “A wise prince must build on strong foundations—otherwise he falls.” (The Prince, Chapter 7, p. 23)
- “Men almost always walk on paths beaten by others and act by imitation.” (The Prince, Chapter 6, p. 20)
- “He who becomes a prince through the favor of the people must keep them friendly.” (The Prince, Chapter 9, p. 32)
- “A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.” (The Prince, Chapter 18, p. 57)
Human Nature and Deception
- “Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.” (The Prince, Chapter 17, p. 54)
- “Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel.” (The Prince, Chapter 18, p. 58)
- “The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.” (The Prince, Chapter 18, p. 58)
- “Men in general are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous.” (The Prince, Chapter 17, p. 55)
- “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.” (The Prince, Chapter 18, p. 58)
- “Men’s hatreds generally spring from fear or envy.” (Discourses on Livy, Book I, Chapter 29, p. 66)
- “Men do you harm either because they fear you or because they hate you.” (The Prince, Chapter 19, p. 62)
- “Men are less careful about offending someone they love than someone they fear.” (The Prince, Chapter 17, p. 54)
- “The nature of peoples is variable, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.” (The Prince, Chapter 6, p. 21)
- “Men willingly change their rulers hoping to fare better.” (The Prince, Chapter 3, p. 11)
Strategy and Survival
- “Fortune is a woman, and if you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill-use her.” (The Prince, Chapter 25, p. 82)
- “It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity.” (The Prince, Chapter 15, p. 50)
- “War cannot be avoided; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.” (The Prince, Chapter 3, p. 12)
- “A prince must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.” (The Prince, Chapter 18, p. 57)
- “The best fortress is to be found in the love of the people.” (The Prince, Chapter 20, p. 67)
- “He who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building.” (The Prince, Chapter 7, p. 23)
- “There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed.” (The Prince, Chapter 3, p. 12)
- “A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent.” (The Prince, Chapter 6, p. 20)
- “Fortune governs half of our actions, but allows us to govern the other half.” (The Prince, Chapter 25, p. 81)
- “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.” (The Prince, Chapter 26, p. 85)
Machiavelli’s words are a battle cry for anyone ready to rise, strategize, and wield power—proof that success starts with mastering the game.
These quotes push you to shake off the weak, fight with cunning, and shine with ruthless steel, straight from a mind that’s shaped centuries with fierce clarity.
Which Machiavelli line gets you scheming? Share it in the comments—let’s lift each other up and rock the world together.
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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