Business Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli
“One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Prince, Chapter 12, 1532
Leaders should protect property rights and keep taxes reasonable to foster entrepreneurship and prosperity.
In simple terms: Encourage business by protecting assets and limiting taxes.
Key Takeaway
Support owners, lower burdens.
Themes
property rights
tax policy
entrepreneurship
prosperity
Mood
pragmatic
strategic
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- urban development
- small business startups
- tax reform
- investment incentives
Key Concepts
political theory
economic incentives
statecraft
Questions to Reflect On
- What tax level best balances revenue and growth?
- How to ensure protection without corruption?
A Different Perspective
Excessive leniency may lead to inequality or abuse of power.
![“[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)