Business Quote by Niccolò Machiavelli
““No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution. Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than in knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered. Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.””
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Prince, 1532
Success depends on secrecy and timing; disciplined, experienced men can act bravely when opportunity arises.
In simple terms: Secrecy and discipline enable success in war.
Key Takeaway
Plan carefully and act when ready.
Themes
strategy
discipline
opportunity
war
leadership
Mood
cautious
determined
Type
advisory
strategic
When to use this quote
- military campaigns
- business launches
- political maneuvers
- team projects
Key Concepts
political theory
military tactics
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you protect critical plans?
- When is it better to act openly?
A Different Perspective
Secrecy can be compromised by leaks, reducing effectiveness.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)