--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And how are such wars to be waged? The…" description: "\"“And how are such wars to be waged? The wise prince will begin by assuming the enemy to be infinitely corruptible and infinitely stupid, since stupidit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/arthur-machen-11940_freedom_and-how-are-such-wars-to-be-waged-the-wi_3031127.jpg" --- # And how are such wars to be waged? The wise prince will… ![“And how are such wars to be waged? The wise prince will begin by assuming the enemy to be infinitely corruptible and infinitely stupid, since stupidity and corruption are the chief characteristics of man. So the prince will make himself friends in the very councils of his enemy, and also amongst…” quote by Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/arthur-machen-11940_freedom_and-how-are-such-wars-to-be-waged-the-wi_3031127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/arthur-machen-11940_freedom_and-how-are-such-wars-to-be-waged-the-wi_3031127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/arthur-machen-11940_freedom_and-how-are-such-wars-to-be-waged-the-wi_3031127.jpg) > ““And how are such wars to be waged? The wise prince will begin by assuming the enemy to be infinitely corruptible and infinitely stupid, since stupidity and corruption are the chief characteristics of man. So the prince will make himself friends in the very councils of his enemy, and also amongst the populace, bribing the wealthy by proffering to them the opportunity of still greater wealth, and winning the poor by swelling words. For, contrary to the common opinion, it is the wealthy who are greedy of wealth; while the populace are to be gained by talking to them about liberty, their unknown god. And so much are they enchanted by the words liberty, freedom, and such like, that the wise can go to the poor, rob them of what little they have… and win their hearts and their votes forever, if only they will assure them that the treatment which they have received is called liberty.”” [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ruler manipulates both elite and masses by exploiting greed and the desire for liberty, using corruption and rhetoric to secure power forever. **In simple terms:** Leaders can control people by appealing to greed and liberty. Key Takeaway Beware of leaders who promise liberty while exploiting desires. Themes politics manipulation power corruption Mood cautious critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - election campaigns - corporate lobbying - public policy - grassroots movements Key Concepts realpolitik propaganda social engineering Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens recognize manipulation? - What safeguards protect democratic liberty? A Different Perspective Such tactics can backfire if the populace becomes aware. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming-enemy-4952257/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Stupidity Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity-corruption-2818375/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-poor-259261/) [Wise Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-prince-1345214/) [Words Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-liberty-1820547/) ## Related quotes > [For, contrary to the common opinion, it is the wealthy who are greedy of wealth; while the populace are to be gained by talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/for-contrary-to-the-common-opinion-it-is-the-wealthy-who-are-greedy/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [Whoever looks at America will see: the ship is powered by stupidity, corruption, or prejudice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-most/whoever-looks-at-america-will-see-the-ship-is-powered-by-stupidity/) [Johann Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-most/) > [“In America, the rich man tries to pretend that the poor man is his equal in every respect but money, which is simply not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-america-the-rich-man-tries-to-pretend-that-the-poor-man-is-his-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The rich man can afford to be happy and wise; the poor man is wiser still, for he understands sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-chase/the-rich-man-can-afford-to-be-happy-and-wise-the-poor-man-is-wiser/) [William Henry Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-chase/) > [“There is something in that, I know there is, because it does not sound too sweet; it is not like such words as Liberty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/there-is-something-in-that-i-know-there-is-because-it-does-not-sound/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [As a boy, the very words 'Liberty Bell' and 'Independence Hall' fired my imagination and made a profound and lasting impression on my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/as-a-boy-the-very-words-liberty-bell-and-independence-hall-fired-my/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [In ten phrases, the ten commandments express the essential of life. 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As I had neither,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/here-i-could-see-was-choice-matter-on-which-the-expert-and-art-critic/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [Very softly, but very swiftly, Last, the man with the grey face and the staring eyes, bolted for his life, down and away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/very-softly-but-very-swiftly-last-the-man-with-the-grey-face-and-the/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [It was better, he thought, to fail in attempting exquisite things than to succeed in the department of the utterly contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/it-was-better-he-thought-to-fail-in-attempting-exquisite-things-than/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [And it is utterly true that he who cannot find wonder, mystery, awe, the sense of a new world and an undiscovered realm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/and-it-is-utterly-true-that-he-who-cannot-find-wonder-mystery-awe-the/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [Every branch of human knowledge, if traced up to its source and final principles, vanishes into mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/every-branch-of-human-knowledge-if-traced-up-to-its-source-and-final/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [silence is not weakness and decency is not pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/silence-is-not-weakness-and-decency-is-not-pride/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) [Explore all 55 Arthur Machen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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For, contrary to the common opinion, it is the wealthy who are greedy of wealth; while the populace are to be gained by talking to them about liberty, their unknown god. 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