Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge and not use it according to the necessity of the case.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A leader may need to act immorally at times to maintain power and stability.
This quote by Machiavelli suggests that the pursuit of goodness can be detrimental in a world where morality is not universally upheld. It implies that a ruler, in order to govern effectively, must sometimes adopt unethical behaviors when the situation demands it, demonstrating that pragmatic decision-making often outweighs idealistic moral principles in leadership.
Themes
LeadershipPowerMoralityPragmatismStrategy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethical leadership during a management seminar.
More from Niccolo Machiavelli
All quotes βFor that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin than his preservation.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and so, as I said above, if a prince wishes to maintain the state, he is often obliged not to be good; because whenever that group which you believe you need to support you is corrupted, whether it be the common people, the soldiers, or the nobles, it is to your advantage to follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them; and then good actions are your enemy.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
Similar quotes
The struggle between Liberty and Authority is the most conspicuous feature in the portions of history with which we are earliest familiar; particularly in that of Greece, Rome, and England
John Stuart MillRead
Murderers are not monsters, they're men. And that's the most frightening thing about them.
Alice SeboldRead
We each appear to hold within ourselves a range of divergent views as to our native qualities.. And amid such uncertainty, we typically turn to the wider world to settle the question of our significance.. we seem beholden to affections of others to endure ourselves.
Alain De BottonRead
Guilt -- if there was any guilt -- spread out and diffused itself over everybody and everything. . . . Perhaps at some point in time, at some spot in the world, a moment of responsibility existed.
Philip K. DickRead
...I would like to live a little bit longer in this beautiful concentration camp.
Imre KertszRead
And if my present deeds are foolish in thy sight, it may be that a foolish judge arraigns my folly.
SophoclesRead