"Among other causes of misfortune which your..." - Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli
Among other causes of misfortune which your not being armed brings upon you, it makes you despised.
More by Niccolo Machiavelli
“The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold.”
“There are three kinds of brains: One understands of itself, another can be taught to understand, and the third can neither understand to itself or be taught to understand.”
“I hold it to be a proof of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words toward anyone, for neither diminishes the strength of the enemy.”
More on Security
“The securest place is a prison cell, but there is no liberty”
“You all know," said the Guide, "that security is mortals' greatest enemy.”
“There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed.”
More on Arms
“An armed republic submits less easily to the rule of one of its citizens than a republic armed by foreign forces. Rome and Sparta were for many centuries well armed and free. The Swiss are well armed and enjoy great freedom. Among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible. It is not reasonable to suppose that one who is armed will obey willingly one who is unarmed; or that any unarmed man will remain safe among armed servants.”
“Arms alone are not enough to keep the peace. It must be kept by men.”
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.”