8 Quotes from Machiavelli that Can Teach You about the Art of Politics and Power
#03: "Politics have no relation to morals."
In the world of politics and power, there are few names as notorious and influential as Niccolò Machiavelli.
As a diplomat and philosopher in Renaissance Italy, Machiavelli observed firsthand the ruthlessness and cunning required to gain and maintain political power.
His most famous work, “The Prince,” remains a classic treatise on leadership and has been studied by politicians, military leaders, and businesspeople for centuries.
In this article, we will explore eight quotes from Machiavelli that provide valuable insights into the art of politics and power.
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1 — “The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.”
This quote from Machiavelli means that a wise person is decisive and takes action quickly, while a fool procrastinates and puts off important decisions until later.
Machiavelli believed that indecision and delay were the enemies of success and that wise leaders must be willing to take risks and make difficult choices in order to achieve their goals.
In essence, this quote emphasizes the importance of being proactive and taking action rather than waiting for circumstances to dictate your decisions.
Imagine two people are given the same task at work, but one person procrastinates and the other completes the task right away.
The procrastinator may think they are being wise by taking their time and waiting for the perfect moment, while the person who completed the task immediately may be seen as foolish for rushing into it.
However, if the deadline for the task is quickly approaching, the person who completed it right away will have more time to revise and improve their work, while the procrastinator will be scrambling to finish and may not have the opportunity to make it as good as it could have been.
In this case, the wise decision would have been to act immediately, as the foolish person did, rather than waiting until the last minute.
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