The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reliance on friends gained only by rewards is dangerous because they lack loyalty in hard times. True alliances come from genuine respect and nobility.
- In plain terms
- Don't trust friends you only win with gifts; they won't stay when things get hard.
- What can you take from it?
- Build loyalty through character, not just rewards.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What binds people to you?
- Can money buy true loyalty?
Another view
Rewards are often necessary to attract talent initially.
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