Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes About Enemies

Quotes about: Enemies

• We must bear in mind, then, that there is nothing more difficult and dangerous, or more doubtful of success, than an attempt to introduce a new order of things in any state. For the innovator has for enemies all those who derived advantages from the old order of things, whilst those who expect to be benefited by the new institutions will be but lukewarm defenders.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Order, Mind, Enemy

• It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating changes. The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is lukewarm ... partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Change, Men, Order

  "The Prince". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli, www.theguardian.com. 1532.

• I hold it to be a proof of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words toward anyone, for neither diminishes the strength of the enemy.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Men, Insulting, Enemy

• With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Enemy, Force, Difficulty

• There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Believe

• It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Believe, Art Of War, Men

  "The Prince". Book by Niccolo Machiavelli, 1513.

• No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Business, War, Philosophical

  "The Art of War" by Niccolo Machiavelli, Book 7, as translated by Neal Wood (1965), 1520.

• And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and so, as I said above, if a prince wishes to maintain the state, he is often obliged not to be good; because whenever that group which you believe you need to support you is corrupted, whether it be the common people, the soldiers, or the nobles, it is to your advantage to follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them; and then good actions are your enemy.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Believe, Mean, Order

• A prince is also respected when he is a true friend and a true enemy; that is, when he declares himself on the side of one prince against another without any reservation.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  True Friend, Enemy

  "The Portable Machiavelli".

• I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Revenge, Men, Expression

• You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Believe

• Never do your enemy a minor injury.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Enemy, Injury, Minors

• No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Opportunity

  Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Complete Art of War”, p.424, Simon and Schuster

• Never do an enemy a small injury.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Military, Bad Ass, Enemy

• Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  War, Enemy, Overcoming

• There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new order of things..... Whenever his enemies have occasion to attack the innovator they do so with the passion of partisans, while the others defend him sluggishly so that the innovator and his party alike are vulnerable.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Leadership, Party, Passion

• Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Fighting

• The greatest remedy that is used against a plan of the enemy is to do voluntarily what he plans that you do by force.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Enemy

• The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under the old, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Enemy, Done, May

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2010). “The Prince”, p.21, FastPencil Inc

• I hold it to be of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words towards any one, for neither the one nor the other in any way diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious, and the other increases his hatred of you, and makes him more persevering in his efforts to injure you

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Military, Men, Effort

• For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Order, Enemy, Might

  Niccolo Machiavelli, Sir Thomas More, Sir (2010). “Machiavelli, More & Luther”, p.21, Cosimo, Inc.

• Although deceit is detestable in all other things, yet in the conduct of war it is laudable and honorable; and a commander who vanquishes an enemy by stratagem is equally praised with one who gains victory by force.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  War, Enemy, Victory

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.216, Knickerbocker Classics

• The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Change, Order, Enemy

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.19, Knickerbocker Classics

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