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Never wage war on religion, nor upon seemingly holy institutions, for this thing has too great a force upon the minds of fools.

— Francesco Guicciardini Counsels and Reflections (1857)

Non combattete mai con la religione, né con le cose che pare che dependono da Dio; perché questo obietto ha troppa forza nella mente degli sciocchi.

Original text (Italian)

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More quotes by Francesco Guicciardini

There is no evil in human affairs that has not some good mingled with it.

Storia d' Italia (1537)

Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed.

Storia d' Italia (1537)

Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.

Storia d' Italia (1537)

We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.

Storia d' Italia (1537)

He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short.

Storia d' Italia (1537)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Francesco Guicciardini (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.