Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.
("The Prince")
More Quotes from Niccolo Machiavelli:
A prince is also esteemed when he is a true friend and a true enemy.Niccolo Machiavelli
Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.
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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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Nevertheless, that our freewill may not be altogether extinguished, I think it may be true that fortune is the ruler of half our actions, but that she allows the other half or a little less to be governed by us.
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I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
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Never was anything great achieved without danger.
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