{"id":75136,"date":"2022-08-09T22:40:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T02:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=75136"},"modified":"2022-08-11T10:19:51","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T14:19:51","slug":"quotes-from-the-prince","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/quotes-from-the-prince\/","title":{"rendered":"Quotes From The Prince by Niccol\u00f2 Machiavelli"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are some of the best quotes from The Prince<\/em>? What captures the essence of Machiavelli’s message?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his 16th-century political treatise The Prince<\/em>, Niccol\u00f2 Machiavelli describes how authoritarian leaders<\/a>, or \u201cprinces,\u201d should rule their states. The Prince<\/em> is an unapologetic depiction of the \u201creal truth\u201d of politics, where states and leaders are motivated by ambition as much as by their ideals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for several quotes from The Prince<\/em>, along with context and explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Quotes from The Prince<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are five quotes from The Prince<\/em>. They include one that you’ve likely heard before\u2014but you might not know the context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone sees what you appear to be; few experience what you really are.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, while Machiavelli argues that princes shouldn\u2019t be concerned with behaving<\/em> morally, he says they should be very concerned with appearing <\/em>moral<\/strong>. Princes should strive to have a reputation of being just, loyal, kind, and generous. Machiavelli particularly emphasizes the need for a leader to appear religious<\/em>, even if they don\u2019t truly subscribe to religious principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

While Machiavelli argues that princes should always be prepared to do the wrong thing, he also acknowledges that people want to believe that their leaders are fundamentally good. A prince who is obviously cruel or dishonest or who makes promises with no intention of keeping them will eventually lose the love of their people and the trust of their allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Machiavelli advises that princes should surround themselves with reliable government officials who can assist them in ruling the state by forming a kind of advisory council. Whatever they accomplish will be linked to the prince in the eyes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Machiavelli contends that advisors should feel confident in telling the truth, but should only do so when asked. Advisors who exist to flatter the prince serve no purpose, but even those who offer genuine and realistic advice should never offer unprompted criticism or express doubt in the prince\u2019s decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is much safer to be feared than loved.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Machiavelli\u2019s adage that it\u2019s better to be feared by people than loved by them is one of The Prince<\/em>\u2019s most infamous lessons. His justification for this idea is simple: Obedience due to love and affection is unreliable, while obedience due to fear is not<\/strong>. People are inherently disloyal, and no matter how much love they have for a prince, they may betray him if they believe it\u2019s in their best interest, or even in the best interest of the state. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are some of the best quotes from The Prince? What captures the essence of Machiavelli’s message? In his 16th-century political treatise The Prince, Niccol\u00f2 Machiavelli describes how authoritarian leaders, or \u201cprinces,\u201d should rule their states. The Prince is an unapologetic depiction of the \u201creal truth\u201d of politics, where states and leaders are motivated by ambition as much as by their ideals.  Keep reading for several quotes from The Prince, along with context and explanation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":75139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,21,275],"tags":[710],"class_list":["post-75136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-philosophy","category-politics","tag-the-prince","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nQuotes From The Prince by Niccol\u00f2 Machiavelli - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Prince is known as an unapologetic depiction of the \u201creal truth\u201d of politics. 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