15th-century Politician Quotes

Niccolò Machiavelli

Lorenzo de' Medici

Girolamo Savonarola

Henry VI of England

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him, and must protect himself from those that will not lose it for him, if this is possible; but if he cannot, he need not concern himself unduly if he ignores these less serious vices.

Niccolò Machiavelli

I am the hailstorm that shall break the heads of those who do not take shelter.

Girolamo Savonarola

As it is our nature to be more moved by hope than fear, the example of one we see abundantly rewarded cheers and encourages us far more than the sight of many who have not been well treated disquiets us.

Francesco Guicciardini

How beautiful is youth, that is always slipping away! Whoever wants to be happy, let him be so: of tomorrow there's no knowing.

Lorenzo de' Medici

Kingdoms are but cares,
State is devoid of stay;
Riches are ready snares,
And hasten to decay.

Henry VI of England

Football, wherein is nothing but beastly fury, and extreme violence, whereof proceedeth hurt, and consequently rancour and malice do remain with them that be wounded.

[I am] A Subject and born to obey laws... The trial of all laws only consisteth in honest and probable witness.

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex