Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savor of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.

I would tell the young Francesco Totti to repeat everything that the older Totti did - if he's able to!

I try to follow his example, not to imitate him.

A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get some tinge of it.

Strive for perfection - never be content with mediocrity. You don't win until you conquer the little flaws. You don't beat these great ones until your form is perfect. This is true in all of life. A flaw in a product can ruin a business. A personal failing, a little one, can ruin a person's life. Don't be content with mediocrity - strive to live up to the greatest within you.

It is the nature of the noble and the good and the wise that they impart to us of their nobility and their goodness and their wisdom while they live, making it natural for us to breathe the air they breathe and giving us confidence in our own untested powers. And the same influence in more ethereal fashion they continue to exert after they are gone.

More people can be great leaders than think they can, but they need a purpose greater than themselves.

Most of us only find our own voices after we've sounded like a lot of other people.

I'm a dreamer. I watch people. You don't try to become them because you could never become any of those guys. But you hope that some of it, you know, comes off on you at some point in your show, some point in your writing, that it happens to you and this light just shines on you.

Pick your role models wisely, find out what they did and do it.

Traveling the paths of greatness, even in someone else's footprints, is a vital means to acquiring skill.

A queen is wise. She has earned her serenity, not having had it bestowed on her but having passer her tests. She has suffered and grown more beautiful because of it. She has proved she can hold her kingdom together. She has become its vision. She cares deeply about something bigger than herself. She rules with authentic power.

When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do.

They who set an example make a highway. Others follow the example, because it is easier to travel on a highway than over untrodden grounds.

Who's gonna dare to be great?

People who become great leaders are those who take time to reflect every day on the big questions: Who am I? What is my purpose? Who are my heroes in history, mythology, and religion? What are my unique talents and how do I express them? These are the qualities of silent reflection that make a great leader, like Jesus.

Let us not be satisfied with a mediocre life.

Choose great people and shine in their shadows

Aspire, break bounds. Endeavor to be good, and better still, best.

Watch the one ahead of you, and you'll learn why he is ahead. Then emulate him.

It comes down to trying to expose yourself to the best things humans have done. And then try to bring those things in to what you're doing.

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do...Try to be better than yourself.

Only through immitation do we develop toward originality.

When the original is well chosen and judiciously copied, the imitator often arrives at excellence which he could never have attained without direction; for few are formed with abilities to discover new possibilities of excellence, and to distinguish themselves by means never tried before.