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Full Idea
It is very natural and normal to wish to conquer, and when men do it who can, they always will be praised, or not blamed.
Gist of Idea
A desire to conquer, and men who do it, are always praised, or not blamed
Source
Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince [1513], Ch.3)
Book Ref
Machiavelli,Niccolo: 'The Prince, selections from Discourses', ed/tr. Plamenatz,J [Fontana 1972], p.65
A Reaction
This view seems shocking to us, but it seems to me that this was a widely held view up until the time of Nietzsche, but came to a swift end with the invention of the machine gun in about 1885, followed by the heavy bomber and atomic bomb.
| 7486 | Machiavelli emancipated politics from religion [Machiavelli, by Watson] |
| 6309 | The principle foundations of all states are good laws and good armies [Machiavelli] |
| 7127 | If men are good you should keep promises, but they aren't, so you needn't [Machiavelli] |
| 6306 | People are vengeful, so be generous to them, or destroy them [Machiavelli] |
| 6305 | To retain a conquered state, wipe out the ruling family, and preserve everything else [Machiavelli] |
| 6307 | A desire to conquer, and men who do it, are always praised, or not blamed [Machiavelli] |
| 6308 | A sensible conqueror does all his harmful deeds immediately, because people soon forget [Machiavelli] |