Francesco Guicciardini (March 6, 1483 - May 22, 1540) was an Italian historian and statesman. A friend and critic of Niccolò Machiavelli, he is considered one of the major political writers of the Italian Renaissance.
- 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 slights of many who have not been well treated disquiets us.
- 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.
- Waste no time with revolutions that do not remove the causes of your complaints but simply change the faces of those in charge.
- Never wage war on religion, nor upon seemingly holy institutions, for this thing has too great a force upon the minds of fools
- One who imitates what is bad always goes beyond his model; while one who imitates what is good always comes up short of it.
- Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.
- He is less likely to be mistaken who looks forward to a change in the affairs of the world than he who regards them as firm and stable.
- Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.
- There is no evil in human affairs that has not some good mingled with it.
- We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.
- I want to see three things before I die, but I doubt whether I shall see any of them, no matter how long I live. I want to see a well-ordered republic in our city, Italy liberated from all the barbarians, and the world delivered from the tyranny of these wicked priests.
- To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man’s heart.
- Man’ s good fortune is frequently his worst enemy.