Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

Since the origin of the world there has never been a king—even if you were to select the very best—who did not in some measure abuse his authority…

Power corrupts; but absolute power is really neat.

Tyranny, Is far the worst of treasons. Dost thou deem None rebels except subjects? The prince who Neglects or violates his trust is more A brigand than the robber-chief.

The most insupportable of tyrants exclaim against the exercise of arbitrary power.

Our authorities leave us no doubt that the trust lodged with the oligarchy was sometimes abused, but it certainly ought not to be regarded as a mere usurpation or engine of tyranny.

A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head.

Authority poisons everybody who takes authority on himself.

Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who posses it; and this I know, my lords: that where law ends, tyranny begins.

To assume all the powers is not good for anybody. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. All those experiments have a bad ending.

Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.

What I fear most is power with impunity. I fear abuse of power, and the power to abuse.

Being rapacious and arrogating subject's goods and women is what above all else ... renders the Prince hateful ... and leaves a mind obstinate to vengeance.

It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.

... all of our human experience shows that no one with absolute power can be trusted to give it up even in part.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations perverted it into tyranny.

One Hundred and Seventy Three Despots would surely be as oppressive as one.

Power tends to corrupt if you're there too long.

And who can doubt that it will lead to the worst disorders when minds created free by God are compelled to submit slavishly to an outside will? When we are told to deny our senses and subject them to the whim of others? When people devoid of whatsoever competence are made judges over experts and are granted authority to treat them as they please? These are the novelties which are apt to bring about the ruin of commonwealths and the subversion of the state.

Absolute power should never be trusted to man. It has perverted the wisest heads, and corrupted the best hearts in the world. I should be afraid to commit my property, liberty and life to a body of angels for one whole year.

Congress, factious, domineering, tyrannical Congress has undertaken to poison the minds of the American people, and create a feeling against me in consequence of the manner in which I have distributed the public patronage.

He who has the greatest power put into his hands will only become the more impatient of any restraint in the use of it.

The will of the nation" is one of those expressions which have been most profusely abused by the wily and the despotic of every age.

You know, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"? It's the same with powerlessness. Absolute powerlessness corrupts absolutely.

Human experience long ago taught us that if we allow a man or group of men autocratic powers in government or church, that they use the powers to oppress and defraud the public..