"It was the verdict of ancient writers that men afflict themselves in evil and weary themselves in the good, and that the same effects result from both of these passions. For whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition; which is so powerful in human breasts, that it never leaves them no matter to what rank they rise. The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so that the desire being always greater than the acquisition, there results discontent with the possession and little satisfaction to themselves from it. From this arises the changes in their fortunes; for as men desire, some to have more, some in fear of losing their acquisition, there ensues enmity and war, from which results the ruin of that province and the elevation of another."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Book 1, Ch. 37 Variant: Nature has so contrived that to men, though all things are objects of desire, not all things are attainable; so that desire always exceeds the power of attainment, with the result that men are ill-content with what they possess and their present state brings them little satisfaction. Hence arise the vicissitudes of their fortune. (as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Niccolò Machiavelli
114 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Niccolò Machiavelli →
Related Quotes
"I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misus…"
"How laudable it is for a prince to keep good faith and live with integrity, and not with astuteness, every one knows.…"
"Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves …"
"It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more unc…"
"Politics have no relation to morals."
"...debbe un uomo prudente entrare sempre per vie battute da uomini grandi, e quelli che sono stati eccellentissimi, i…"
"In judging policies we should consider the results that have been achieved through them rather than the means by whic…"
"When evening comes, I return home and enter my study; on the threshold I take off my workday clothes, covered with mu…"
"Now, in order to execute a political commission well, it is necessary to know the character of the prince and those w…"
"The prince must consider, as has been in part said before, how to avoid those things which will make him hated or con…"