Persuade Quote by Niccolò Machiavelli
““For, besides what has been said, it should be borne in mind that the temper of the multitude is fickle, and that while it is easy to persuade them of a thing, it is hard to fix them in that persuasion. Wherefore, matters should be so ordered that when men no longer believe of their own accord, they may be compelled to believe by force.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Prince, 1513
Public opinion changes quickly; convincing people is easy, but keeping them convinced is hard, often requiring coercion.
In simple terms: People forget quickly; maintaining belief needs force.
Key Takeaway
Beware of relying on persuasion alone.
Themes
politics
power
public opinion
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- elections
- marketing campaigns
- policy implementation
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
social influence
coercion
stability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders sustain support without coercion?
- What are ethical limits of using force?
A Different Perspective
Force may backfire and erode trust.
![“[...]if you are hoping to damage opponents' mental health, go ahead and tell them how inferior or dim-witted or nasty they are. But even if you are certifiably right on every point, you should not think for a minute that you will ever be able to persuade them. Name-calling will make you an enemy…” quote by Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e9/steven-d-levitt-5284_first-place_if-you-are-hoping-to-damage-opponents-me_193482.jpg)
![“I like [Barak] Obama. I like him. So how far does rationality help to persuade anybody? You know, I'm not so sure.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da0/george-saunders-317_barak-obama_i-like-barak-obama-i-like-him-so-how-far_87954.jpg)
