Quotes by Francesco Guicciardini

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Humanity exhorts you not to promise more than you can handle, but most people get upset when you refuse a request, even if you do it rightly.

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Ambition is not to be condemned, nor is the ambitious who seeks glory by fair and honest means, for these are the very men who do great and important things.

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Man cannot wish for anything in the world that fills him with more pride than to see his enemy kneel down and at his mercy; but then his pride will be twice as great if he knows how to live up to it, showing himself merciful and contenting himself with victory.

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The man who enjoys a resounding fame will never feel the lack of friends, sympathy and goodwill of people.

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Everyone has flaws, some - more, others - less. This is why neither friendship, nor help, nor communication would be possible, if there were no patience.

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Man's greatest test is not to resist failure, but to resist happiness.

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May the ingratitude of many not turn you away from doing good; For besides the fact that good in itself, without pursuing other ends, is a noble thing, you may meet, in doing good, so much gratitude on one's part, that it will serve as gratitude for the whole ingratitude of others.

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Nature has given us the opportunity not to think about death, because if we thought about it, the world would be still and stiff.

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No one should forget that he will die, but live as if he had to live forever.

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There is nothing more precious than friends; so don't miss the opportunity to make friends whenever you can.

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Fulfilling one's duty brings one a fame from which the gain is greater than the harm from a supposed enemy.

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You must not disregard the performance of duty merely for fear of making enemies or of displeasing someone.

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There is no long friendship, no obedience, no comradeship, where one does not accommodate the other.