New and unexpected events dismay armies; customary and slow-moving ones are little esteemed by them; therefore, you should have your army practice and become acquainted with a new enemy through small skirmishes before you face them in a major battle.

Le cose nuove e subite sbigottiscono gli eserciti; le cose consuete e lente sono poco stimate da quegli; però farai al tuo esercito praticare e conoscere con piccole zuffe un nemico nuovo, prima che tu venga alla giornata con quello.

New and unexpected events dismay armies; customary and slow-moving ones are little esteemed by them; therefore, you should have your army practice and become acquainted with a new enemy through small skirmishes before you face them in a major battle.

Niccolò Machiavelli · Dell'arte della guerra / Citazioni

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Men are so simple, and yield so much to necessity, that he who will deceive may always find him that will lend himself to be deceived.

Niccolò Machiavelli · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 243

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Men are of three different capacities: one understands intuitively; another understands so far as it is explained; and a third understands neither of himself nor by explanation. The first is excellent, the second, commendable, and the third, altogether useless.

Niccolò Machiavelli · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 32

Meglio è, nell'ordinare la giornata, riserbare dietro alla prima fronte assai aiuti, che, per fare la fronte maggiore, disperdere i suoi soldati.

Niccolò Machiavelli · Dell'arte della guerra / Citazioni

Agli accidenti subiti con difficoltà si rimedia, a' pensati con facilità.

Niccolò Machiavelli · Dell'arte della guerra / Citazioni