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Arms should be the last thing — when other means prove inadequate
Niccolo Machiavelliі (1469-1527)
An Italian thinker, philosopher, writer, political activist — he held the post of Secretary of the Second Chancellery in Florence, was responsible for the Republic’s diplomatic relations, the author of military-theoretical works.
Machiavelli is one of the few figures of the Renaissance, who in his work raised the question of the role of the ruler’s personality. He believed that a strong, even lacking pang of conscience, ruler of a unified country is better than rival local rulers.
The author of the idea of the universal military duty — he called for a transition from the mercenary army to the army recruited under conscription.
One more quote. Machiavelli is often thought to be the author of it:
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