He [the prince] holds to what is right when he can but knows how to do wrong when he must.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

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More information about this quote

Topic

Moral relativism Expediency Political theory

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

Italy Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Niccolo Machiavelli about moral relativism: “He [the prince] holds to what is right when he can but knows how…”
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A quote by Niccolo Machiavelli about moral relativism: “He [the prince] holds to what is right when he can but knows how…”
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A quote by Niccolo Machiavelli about moral relativism: “He [the prince] holds to what is right when he can but knows how…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Political theory

What I say is that "just" or "right" means nothing but what is to the interest of the stronger party.

Thrasymachus

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Might makes right Justice Political theory Moral theory Morality
Speaker
Thrasymachus

Author

Plato
Source
Republic
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Thrasymachus. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Thrasymachus. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Another quote from European Renaissance

Weigh’st thy words before thou giv’st them breath.

William Shakespeare

Othello

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More information about this quote
Topic
Think before speaking Careless speech Talking
Speaker
Othello

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Othello
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Statement Type
Advice
Language
English
Time
1604 1600s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Othello. King's Men, 1 Nov. 1604, Palace of Whitehall, Westminster, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Othello." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 3.

Another quote originally in Italian

We have buried the putrid corpse of liberty.

Benito Mussolini

More information about this quote
Topic
Fascism

Author

Benito Mussolini
Language
Italian
Time
1923 1920s 20th century
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Mussolini, Benito. "Forza e consenso [Strength and Consent]." Da Gerarchia. Mar. 1923.

Current Citation

Casanova, Giacomo. History of My Life, vols. 1-2, translated by William Trask. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997, preface.