--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A multitude is strong while it holds…" description: "\"A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg" --- # A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon… ![“A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg) > “A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collective strength depends on unity; self‑interest erodes the group. **In simple terms:** Unity makes a group strong; selfishness weakens it. Key Takeaway Prioritize group cohesion over personal fear. Themes politics society unity selfishness strength Mood cautious reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political alliances - team projects - community building - family decisions Key Concepts collective action social contract group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal safety with group loyalty? - What incentives foster collective responsibility? A Different Perspective If individuals act solely for self‑preservation, the group may collapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemptible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptible/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Danger Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger-weak-5426344/) [Multitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitude/) [Multitude Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitude-strong-5426342/) [Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitudes/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weak Contemptible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-contemptible-5426343/) ## Related quotes > [That cause is strong which has, not a multitude, but one strong man behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/that-cause-is-strong-which-has-not-a-multitude-but-one-strong-man/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [This many-headed monster, Multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-daniel/this-many-headed-monster-multitude/) [Samuel Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-daniel/) > [The multitude is always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-multitude-is-always-in-the-wrong/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [Religion is the only metaphysic that the multitude can understand and adopt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/religion-is-the-only-metaphysic-that-the-multitude-can-understand-and/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [The multitude which does not reduce itself to unity is confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-multitude-which-does-not-reduce-itself-to-unity-is-confusion/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [What is any ocean but a multitude of drops?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/what-is-any-ocean-but-a-multitude-of-drops/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [And you are made of a hundred trillion cells. We are, each of us, a multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/and-you-are-made-of-a-hundred-trillion-cells-we-are-each-of-us-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [In solitude, be a multitude to thyself. Tibullus by all means use sometimes to be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-solitude-be-a-multitude-to-thyself-tibullus-by-all-means-use/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no limit to this fever for writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-multitude-of-books-is-a-great-evil-there-is-no-limit-to-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/we-are-but-one-of-the-multitude-in-no-respect-better-than-any-other/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/wherever-the-bishop-shall-appear-there-let-the-multitude-also-be-even/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [What the multitude says, is so, or soon will be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-the-multitude-says-is-so-or-soon-will-be-so/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Dar'st thou amid the varied multitude To live alone, an isolated thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/dar-st-thou-amid-the-varied-multitude-to-live-alone-an-isolated-thing/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Contemptible quotes > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [We gave him a hearty welcome, for there was nearly half as much of the entertaining as of the contemptible about the man..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/we-gave-him-a-hearty-welcome-for-there-was-nearly-half-as-much-of-the/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“It is a difficult choice sometimes whether to feel revolted at the male sex or merely to dismiss them as contemptible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-a-difficult-choice-sometimes-whether-to-feel-revolted-at-the/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [None but the contemptible are apprehensive of contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/none-but-the-contemptible-are-apprehensive-of-contempt/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Contemptuous people are sure to be contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/contemptuous-people-are-sure-to-be-contemptible/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Nothing that is not a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-that-is-not-a-real-crime-makes-a-man-appear-so-contemptible/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“For it was intelligence that was the thin line between endearing rapscallion and idiot bastard. - Éibhear the Contemptible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken/for-it-was-intelligence-that-was-the-thin-line-between-endearing/) [G.A. Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken/) > [The unanimously applauded, self-congratulatory bromides of a Soviet Party Congress seemed contemptible. The unanimity of the sanctimonious, reality-concealing rhetoric spouted by American officials and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-unanimously-applauded-self-congratulatory-bromides-of-a-soviet/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [As men neither fear nor respect what has been made contemptible, all honor to him who makes oppression laughable as well as detestable. Armies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/as-men-neither-fear-nor-respect-what-has-been-made-contemptible-all/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [To my eye Rubens' colouring is most contemptible. His shadows are a filthy brown somewhat the colour of excrement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/to-my-eye-rubens-colouring-is-most-contemptible-his-shadows-are-a/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [It was better, he thought, to fail in attempting exquisite things than to succeed in the department of the utterly contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/it-was-better-he-thought-to-fail-in-attempting-exquisite-things-than/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/an-ignorant-man-is-insignificant-and-contemptible-nobody-cares-for/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-something-feeble-and-a-little-contemptible-about-a-man-who-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no being so poor and so contemptible, who does not think there is somebody still poorer, and still more contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-is-no-being-so-poor-and-so-contemptible-who-does-not-think/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Not one word was said by Moses or Aaron as to the wickedness of depriving a human being of his liberty. Not a word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/not-one-word-was-said-by-moses-or-aaron-as-to-the-wickedness-of/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Browse all 52 Contemptible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think of his own private danger, it becomes weak and contemptible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-together-but-so-soon-as-each-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contemptible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-together-but-so-soon-as-each-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/niccolo-machiavelli-368_danger_a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-tog_1485855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A multitude is strong while it holds together, but so soon as each of those who compose it begins ro think…” — Niccolo Machiavelli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A multitude is strong while it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-together-but-so-soon-as-each-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-multitude-is-strong-while-it-holds-together-but-so-soon-as-each-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```