Italian - Historian | March 6, 1483 - May 22, 1540
I know no man who feels deeper disgust than I do at the ambition, avarice, and profligacy of the priesthood, as well because every one of these vices is odious in itself, as because each of them separately and all of them together are utterly abhorrent in men making profession of a life dedicated to God.
Francesco Guicciardini
LifeGodMenTogetherManAmbition
Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
FriendshipChanceFriendsWorthLose
If you attempt certain things at the right time, they are easy to accomplish - in fact, they almost get done by themselves. If you undertake them before the time is right, not only will they fail, but they will often become impossible to accomplish even when the time would have been right.
TimeImpossibleEasyYouAccomplish
Waste no time with revolutions that do not remove the causes of your complaints but simply change the faces of those in charge.
ChangeTimeNo TimeFacesCharge
The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.
BrainyAlwaysReturnReapGenerous
Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honourable ways.
AmbitionEvilFameSpiritWorthyHe
It is a great matter to be in authority over others; for authority, if it be rightly used, will make you feared beyond your actual resources.
GreatYouAuthorityBeyondMatter
Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.
SucceedDependManyAffairsRarely
One who imitates what is bad always goes beyond his model; while one who imitates what is good always comes up short of it.
GoodShortBadBeyondAlwaysUp
Let no one trust so entirely to natural prudence as to persuade himself that it will suffice to guide him without help from experience.
TrustExperienceHelpWillHim
Like other men, I have sought honours and preferment, and often have obtained them beyond my wishes or hopes. Yet never have I found in them that content which I had figured beforehand in my mind. A strong reason, if we well consider it, why we should disencumber ourselves of vain desires.
MenMindStrongWishesWhyNever
Pay no heed to those who tell you that they have relinquished place and power of their own accord, and from their love of quiet. For almost always they have been brought to this retirement by their insufficiency and against their will.
LovePowerRetirementYouPlacePay
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