Arrogant Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli
“It is often found that modesty and humility not only do no good, but are positively hurtful, when they are shown to the arrogant who have taken up a prejudice against you, either from envy or from any other cause.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Prince, 1532
Modesty can backfire when displayed to the arrogant, causing harm rather than goodwill.
In simple terms: Humility may hurt when shown to the proud.
Key Takeaway
Use tact and discernment when showing humility.
Themes
humility
power dynamics
social interaction
Mood
cautious
strategic
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- negotiations
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- team dynamics
Key Concepts
political theory
human behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- When is humility strategic?
- How can you protect yourself from arrogant backlash?
A Different Perspective
Humility may be misinterpreted as weakness.
![“[T]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom, just waiting for us to pick the whole thing up and heave it away. It has to happen. Free people can put up with such laws only for so long.” quote by Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aed/dick-armey-16265_america_t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-af_12886.jpg)
