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Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes and Quotations
Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed. Men hesitate less to injure a man who makes himself loved than to injure one who makes himself feared, for their love is held by a chain of obligation which, because of men's wickedness, is broken on every occasion for the sake of selfish profit; but their fear is secured by a dread of punishment. Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion. Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor. One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others. Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger. Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful. Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Fear is secured by a dread of punishment. Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor. One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger. Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties. Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. |