Advantage Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli
“One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Prince, 1532
Avoiding conflict by tolerating problems only postpones inevitable war, benefiting adversaries.
In simple terms: Ignoring issues to prevent war only delays it, helping enemies.
Key Takeaway
Address problems early, don't defer conflict.
Themes
politics
conflict
strategy
ethics
Mood
cautious
strategic
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- international negotiations
- organizational leadership
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
realpolitik
power dynamics
preventive action
Questions to Reflect On
- What issues are you ignoring to keep peace?
- How can early resolution change power balance?
A Different Perspective
Deferring war may cause larger, uncontrollable conflict later.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
