Quotes by Francesco Guicciardini

“It is our nature to be more moved by hope than fear.”

“Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.”

“The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.”

“He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set on the contrary he who imitates what is good always falls short.”

“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 disquie...”

“Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.”

“To relinquish a present good through apprehension of a future evil is in most instances unwise ... from a fear which may afterwards turn out groundless you lost the good that lay within your grasp.”

“Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends never lose a chance to make them.”

“He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set on the contrary he who imitates what is good always falls short.”

“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 disquiet...”

“L'imitazione del male supera sempre l'esempio; comme per il contrario, l'imitazione del bene è sempre inferiore.”

“Gli ambasciadori sono l'occhio e l'orecchio degli stati.”

“Non è male alcuno nelle cose umane che non abbia congiunto seco qualche bene.”

“Ha sempre dimostrato l'esperienza, e lo dimostra la ragione, che mai succedono bene le cose che dipendono da molti.”

“Con disavvantaggio grande si fa la guerra con chi non ha che perdere.”

“Frank sincerity is a quality much extolled among men and pleasing to every one, while simulation, on the contrary, is detested and condemned. Yet for a man's self, simulation is of the two by far t...”

“Non combattete mai con la religione, né con le cose che pare che dependono da Dio; perché questo obietto ha troppa forza nella mente degli sciocchi.”

“If displeased with any man, do all you can to prevent his seeing it, for otherwise he will become estranged. And occasions often arise when he might and would have served you had you not lost him b...”

“Francesco Guicciardini. Counsels and Reflections (Ricordi politici e civili). Translation by Ninian Hill Thomson. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1890.”