Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that…

““Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.””

Niccolò Machiavelli

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advises a ruler to provide for citizens so they remain faithful to the state and him.

In simple terms: Provide for people to earn loyalty.

Key Takeaway

Ensure citizen welfare.

Themes

politics leadership loyalty

Mood

strategic pragmatic

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

public policy
welfare programs
authoritarianism

Key Concepts

statecraft social contract governance

Questions to Reflect On

How to balance provision and liberty?
What risks arise from over‑dependence?

A Different Perspective

May ignore individual freedoms.

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