Francesco Guicciardini Quotes

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

In our corrupt times, the virtue of a Pontiff is commended when he does not surpass the wickedness of other men. —Francesco Guicciardini, History of Italy, 1561

When wicked or ignorant men govern, it is not surprising that virtue and goodness are not esteemed. For the former hate them, and the latter do not know them.

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

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

The success of very important matters often depends on doing or not doing something that seems trivial. Even in little things, therefore, you must be cautious and thoughtful. Francesco Guicciardini

But it is dangerous to follow Examples, if they do not correspond in the most material Circumstances with the present State of our Affairs; are not conducted with equal Judgment, or attended with the like Prospect of Success.

Erra chi dice che le lettere guastano e' cervelli degli uomini, perché è forse vero in chi l'ha debole; ma dove lo truovano buono, lo fanno perfetto; perché el buono naturale congiunto col buono accidentale fa nobilissima composizione.

Durante mucho tiempo no dije lo que creía, ni creo lo que digo, y si alguna vez por casualidad digo la verdad, la oculto entre tantas mentiras que resulta difícil de hallar. Nicolás Maquiavelo, en una carta a Francesco Guicciardini, 17 de mayo de 1521

Guardate quanto gli uomini ingannano loro medesimi: ciascuno reputa brutti e peccati che lui non fa, leggieri quegli che fa; e con questa regola si misura spesso el male e el bene, più che col considerare e gradi e qualità delle cose.

Né e pazzi né e savi non possono finalmente resistere a quello che ha a essere: però io non lessi mai cosa che mi paressi meglio detta che quella che disse colui: "Ducunt volentes fata, nolentes trahunt".

Come in una commedia o tragedia non è piú in prezzo chi porta la persona del padrone e del re, che chi porta quella di uno servo, ma solamente si attende chi la porta meglio.

[[of Ludovico Szforza] He was become immoderately vain, and little considering the Inconstancy of Human Affairs, was wont to say ‘He was the Son of Fortune and could manage his Mother as he pleased.

After Piero died, the cardinal abruptly changed the Medici tactics toward Florence. He and his other brother, Giuliano, decided, as Francesco Guicciardini wrote, “that the best way to facilitate their return was not to use force and violence, but to show love and benevolence, benefitting the citizens and never offending them either in public or in private. They never overlooked an opportunity to do a favor to any Florentine citizen, whether he lived in Rome or was just passing through. . . . Soon it became quite clear that the entire house, possessions, resources, and reputation of the Cardinal were at the disposal of any Florentine who cared to use them. The effectiveness of all this was enhanced by the fact that the greedy and self-seeking Cardinal Soderini [also a Florentine] never did anything for any Florentine. By comparison with him, the liberality and generous deeds of the Medici

Ferdinando [King of Naples] resolv’d, in good Earnest, to try how to compromise the Affair of the Castles; being persuaded, that that when this Obstacle was remov'd, Matters would easily return into the fame peaceable Channel. But by removing the Causes, the Effects that sprung from them are not always remov'd. For, as it frequently happens, that Resolutions taken out of Fear seldom appear sufficient to the Fearful.

Capponi and his Colleagues being one Day in the King's Presence, while one of the royal Secretaries was reading over the immoderate Articles which were proposed as the ultimate Propositions on the King's Part, he fell in a Passion, and violently snatching the Paper out of the Secretary's Hand, tore it to Pieces before the King's Face; adding in a high Tone of Voice, 'Since you demand such dishonourable Conditions, sound your Trumpets, and we will sound our Bellls;' By which he intended as much a if he had said in plain Words, 'Let the Differences be decided by Arms.' With this Speech, and with the same Air of Indignation, followed by his Colleagues, he abruptly left the room.