Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. – Niccolo Machiavelli
So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied. – Niccolo Machiavelli
The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes. – Niccolo Machiavelli
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us. – Niccolo Machiavelli