A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Leaders must master both cunning and force to survive threats from traps and predators.
- In plain terms
- Be clever to spot traps and strong to scare enemies.
- What can you take from it?
- Combine cleverness and strength to survive.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you balance cunning and force?
- When is each tool appropriate?
Another view
Relying on force and trickery can breed distrust and instability.
More from Niccolo Machiavelli
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 great…
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Permalink to quote #14 He ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much conf…
Permalink to quote #11
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