---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who neglects what is done for what…"
description: "\"He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg"
---

#  He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done…

![“He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg)

> “He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.”

[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.

Neglecting practical actions for idealistic goals leads to personal ruin.

**In simple terms:** Focus on deeds, not just ideals.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize effective actions over lofty ideals.

Themes

pragmatism politics risk

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- leadership
- policy making
- personal projects

Key Concepts

political theory ethical dilemmas

Questions to Reflect On

- When is idealism worth the risk?
- How to balance vision and execution?

A Different Perspective

Idealism can inspire necessary change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/) [Cognitive therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive-therapy/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Effects Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects-ruin-2044926/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Neglects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglects/) [Neglects Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglects-ought-2044925/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Ruin Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin-preservation-2044927/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/)

## Related quotes

> [Tragedy is in the eye of the observer, and not in the heart of the sufferer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/tragedy-is-in-the-eye-of-the-observer-and-not-in-the-heart-of-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Things can never touch the soul, but stand inert outside it, so that disquiet can arise only from fancies within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/things-can-never-touch-the-soul-but-stand-inert-outside-it-so-that/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [The individual is taught that there is nothing that he as a total person is to feel ashamed of or self-hating for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-individual-is-taught-that-there-is-nothing-that-he-as-a-total/)

[Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/)

> [Things may happen around you, and things may happen to you, but the only things that matter are the things that happen in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/things-may-happen-around-you-and-things-may-happen-to-you-but-the-2/)

[Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/)

> [The depressed man lives in a depressed world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/the-depressed-man-lives-in-a-depressed-world/)

[Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/)

> [“CBT is a much publicised and debated psychotherapeutic intervention for ME/CFS….The premise that cognitive therapy (eg. changing ‘illness beliefs’) and graded activity can ‘reverse’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-komaroff/cbt-is-a-much-publicised-and-debated-psychotherapeutic-intervention/)

[Anthony Komaroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-komaroff/)

> [Buddhists were actually the first cognitive-behavioral therapists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/buddhists-were-actually-the-first-cognitive-behavioral-therapists/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [There are a variety of techniques to help people change the kind of thinking that leads them to become depressed. These techniques are called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/there-are-a-variety-of-techniques-to-help-people-change-the-kind-of/)

[Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/)

> [The relish of good and evil depends in a great measure upon the opinion we have of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-relish-of-good-and-evil-depends-in-a-great-measure-upon-the/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [Don't ask why the patient is the way he is, ask for what he would change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-h-erickson/don-t-ask-why-the-patient-is-the-way-he-is-ask-for-what-he-would/)

[Milton H. Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-h-erickson/)

> [Man is more powerful than matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/man-is-more-powerful-than-matter/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [We must take care of our minds because we cannot benefit from beauty when our brains are missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/we-must-take-care-of-our-minds-because-we-cannot-benefit-from-beauty/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [We should pledge ourselves to the proposition that the irresponsible life is not worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/we-should-pledge-ourselves-to-the-proposition-that-the-irresponsible/)

[Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/)

> [The present non-aristotelian system is based on fundamental negative premises; namely, the complete denial of 'identity.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/the-present-non-aristotelian-system-is-based-on-fundamental-negative/)

[Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/)

> [Whatever a person frequently thinks and reflects on, that will become the inclination of their mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/whatever-a-person-frequently-thinks-and-reflects-on-that-will-become/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

## 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 Cognitive behavioral therapy quotes

> [Tragedy is in the eye of the observer, and not in the heart of the sufferer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/tragedy-is-in-the-eye-of-the-observer-and-not-in-the-heart-of-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Because of my bipolar disorder, I tend to these mixed states, which are depressed but loud and agitated. So I can be terribly irritable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/because-of-my-bipolar-disorder-i-tend-to-these-mixed-states-which-are/)

[Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/)

> [Our contention is not that medication alone is the answer. We really need to have it in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-kennedy/our-contention-is-not-that-medication-alone-is-the-answer-we-really/)

[Patrick J. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-kennedy/)

> [Thoughts are mightier than strength of hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/thoughts-are-mightier-than-strength-of-hand/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [The present non-aristotelian system is based on fundamental negative premises; namely, the complete denial of 'identity.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/the-present-non-aristotelian-system-is-based-on-fundamental-negative/)

[Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/)

> [We should pledge ourselves to the proposition that the irresponsible life is not worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/we-should-pledge-ourselves-to-the-proposition-that-the-irresponsible/)

[Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/)

> [We must take care of our minds because we cannot benefit from beauty when our brains are missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/we-must-take-care-of-our-minds-because-we-cannot-benefit-from-beauty/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Man is more powerful than matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/man-is-more-powerful-than-matter/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [Man is the artificer of his own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/man-is-the-artificer-of-his-own-happiness/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Don't ask why the patient is the way he is, ask for what he would change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-h-erickson/don-t-ask-why-the-patient-is-the-way-he-is-ask-for-what-he-would/)

[Milton H. Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-h-erickson/)

> [The relish of good and evil depends in a great measure upon the opinion we have of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-relish-of-good-and-evil-depends-in-a-great-measure-upon-the/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [You mainly feel the way you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/you-mainly-feel-the-way-you-think/)

[Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/)

> [ “Historically in the literature CBT \[Cognitive Behavioral Therapy\] was inappropriately touted as a cure for patients with ME/CFS if they changed their “belief system”.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-c-bested/historically-in-the-literature-cbt-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-was/)

[Alison C. Bested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-c-bested/)

> [There are a variety of techniques to help people change the kind of thinking that leads them to become depressed. These techniques are called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/there-are-a-variety-of-techniques-to-help-people-change-the-kind-of/)

[Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/)

> [Buddhists were actually the first cognitive-behavioral therapists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/buddhists-were-actually-the-first-cognitive-behavioral-therapists/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

[Browse all 28 Cognitive behavioral therapy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ought-to-be-done-sooner-effects/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cognitive behavioral therapy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ought-to-be-done-sooner-effects/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_cognitive-behavioral_he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ou_194288.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.” — 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": "He who neglects what is done...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ought-to-be-done-sooner-effects/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ought-to-be-done-sooner-effects/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```