--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For whoever conquers a free Town, and…" description: "\"For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25c/niccolo-machiavelli-368_commit_for-whoever-conquers-a-free-town-and-doe_2097128.jpg" --- # For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish… ![“For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25c/niccolo-machiavelli-368_commit_for-whoever-conquers-a-free-town-and-doe_2097128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25c/niccolo-machiavelli-368_commit_for-whoever-conquers-a-free-town-and-doe_2097128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25c/niccolo-machiavelli-368_commit_for-whoever-conquers-a-free-town-and-doe_2097128.jpg) > “For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.” [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. Conquering a free town without destroying it is a grave mistake, as it invites future ruin. **In simple terms:** Preserving a conquered free town is dangerous. Key Takeaway Avoid preserving free towns after conquest. Themes politics war ethics power strategy Mood cautionary historical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - Colonial occupation - post‑war governance - urban annexation Key Concepts Machiavellianism statecraft military ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is it ever justified to destroy a captured city? - How does preserving autonomy affect long‑term stability? A Different Perspective Destruction may be necessary to prevent rebellion, but it also breeds resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Medieval war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medieval-war/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Uprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uprising/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/whoever-conquers-a-free-town-and-does-not-demolish-it-commits-a-great/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-princes-who-have-done-great-things-are-the-ones-who-have-taken/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/to-ensure-victory-the-troops-must-have-confidence-in-themselves-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/good-order-makes-men-bold-and-confusion-cowards/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-sinews-of-war-are-not-gold-but-good-soldiers/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/so-far-as-he-is-able-a-prince-should-stick-to-the-path-of-good-but-if/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/wars-begin-when-you-will-but-they-do-not-end-when-you-please/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/good-order-and-discipline-in-any-army-are-to-be-depended-upon-more/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-should-never-risk-one-s-whole-fortune-unless-supported-by-one-s/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The catastrophist constructs theories, the uniformitarian demolishes them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-catastrophist-constructs-theories-the-uniformitarian-demolishes/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [“Apparently you’re only allowed to demolish Wolverhampton if you’re a property developer like Donald Trump. 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