Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

A prudent ruler cannot and should not observe faith [keep his promises] when such observance is to his disadvantage.

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.

A wise prince 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 are not bound to observe it with them.

.In politics a man must learn to rise above principle.

Politics is nothing but opportunism.

Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.

Most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done.

As readers, we sense when the game is being played for real and when something else is afoot: pride, showmanship, the pursuit of power, self-aggrandizement, revenge, making money. Not that there's anything wrong with any of that, but I dislike closing a book with the sense that I've been had.

It is a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.

No nation has friends only interests.

There's no way the writing staff of 'Game of Thrones' haven't read 'The Art of War.' There's definitely an influence on 'Game of Thrones' from this book in both a general way and on the character of Lord Baelish and his strategies.

Realize that the game of life is the game of, to some extent, being taken advantage of by people who make a science of it. Whether they are in government or personal life or in business, they're everywhere.

What this White House really needs is a chief of staff who can read Machiavelli in the original Italian.

Once you have power, you are inevitably surrounded by people who have their own agendas and will tell you whatever advances them.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

Politics are about preserving relationships at the end of the day, and it has nothing to do with the greater good for humanity. It's just all about business.

The diplomat holds all acts honorable which bring him success, all things are righteous which serve his ends. If cheating is necessary, he will cheat; if lying is useful, he will lie; if bribery helps, he will bribe; if murder serves, he will order murder; if burglary, seduction, arson or forgery brings success nearer, all and each of these will be done.

In conspiracies, men who know what they wanted commonly ended by controlling the men who did not.

When a man speaks of the need for realism one may be sure that this is always the prelude to some bloody deed.

English politicians and diplomats are somewhat naive. They find it difficult to credit really bad intentions in others.

A ruler must learn to be other than good.

The prince must not mind incurring the scandal of those vices without which it would be difficult to save the state.

Politics is the science of always using the most convenient means in accord with one's own interests.