Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

For titles do not reflect honor on men, but rather men on their titles.

To get a name can happen but to few; it is one of the few things that cannot be brought. It is the free gift of mankind, which must be deserved before it will be granted, and is at last unwillingly bestowed.

I don't think it's up to you to say you belong in The Hall of Fame. That's up to someone else.

The knighthood I received was a fantastic honour but it's not something I've ever used and I don't think I ever will.

How success changes the opinion of men!

It's always good to walk in a room and know everybody kind of looks up to you because I guess I've earned it.

Honor means that a man is not exceptional; fame, that he is. Fame is something which must be won; honor, only something which must not be lost.

Work is the price which is paid for reputation.

I think I've earned a certain level of respect, based on my accomplishments and my consistency.

Some people obtain fame, others deserve it.

Even a poor man can receive honors.

A man of merit owes himself to the homage of the rest of mankind who recognize his worth.

Better deserve honor and not have it, than have it and not deserve it.

Like I always say, the man makes the title; the title doesn't make the man.

If you want respect, you earn it in politics. You don't get it because you are some form of bloody emperor in a toga.

If Queen Elizabeth knighthooded me and I would get the title Sir Usain Bolt. That sounds very nice.

Titles of honor are like the impressions on coins, which add no value to gold or silver, but only render brass current.

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed.

Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of is nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his righteousness, and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the greatest city we have.

It doesn't matter who you are, how many awards you've won, how popular you are, or how much critical acclaim you've had.

The worth of a prize depends on the people who have received it before you.

I'm not looking to be famous, but I want a body of work and a moral character that is deserving of fame.

I'd rather be called King than other things I've been called.

I'd rather be respected than loved.

A lot of people like to live on laurels that happened 20 or 30 years ago, but it's nice to get awards. It's nice to be labeled and things like that, but I'm not sure everybody qualifies.