--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a prince wants to keep up a reputation…" description: "\"“If a prince wants to keep up a reputation for being generous, Machiavelli remarks: it is necessary for him not to neglect any possible means of sumptu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/niccolo-machiavelli-368_generosity_if-a-prince-wants-to-keep-up-a-reputatio_2261262.jpg" --- # If a prince wants to keep up a reputation for being… ![“If a prince wants to keep up a reputation for being generous, Machiavelli remarks: it is necessary for him not to neglect any possible means of sumptuous display; in so doing, such a prince will always use up all his resources in such displays and will be eventually obliged, if he wishes to…” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/niccolo-machiavelli-368_generosity_if-a-prince-wants-to-keep-up-a-reputatio_2261262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/niccolo-machiavelli-368_generosity_if-a-prince-wants-to-keep-up-a-reputatio_2261262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/niccolo-machiavelli-368_generosity_if-a-prince-wants-to-keep-up-a-reputatio_2261262.jpg) > ““If a prince wants to keep up a reputation for being generous, Machiavelli remarks: it is necessary for him not to neglect any possible means of sumptuous display; in so doing, such a prince will always use up all his resources in such displays and will be eventually obliged, if he wishes to maintain his reputation for generosity, to burden the people with excessive taxes and to do all those things one does to procure money. This will begin to make him hateful to his subjects and, if he becomes impoverished, he will be held in low regard by everyone. (Ch. XVI)”” [Niccolò 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. A ruler who tries to appear generous must spend lavishly, risking fiscal strain and public resentment, ultimately undermining his authority. **In simple terms:** Excessive generosity can bankrupt a leader and alienate subjects. Key Takeaway Balance generosity with fiscal prudence. Themes political power leadership public perception financial management reputation Mood cautious strategic critical Type political historical advisory When to use this quote - government decisions - budget planning - public communication - tax policy Key Concepts resource depletion taxation public opinion strategic image Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to be seen as generous or to be financially sustainable? - How can leaders demonstrate generosity without overtaxing citizens? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on image may backfire if resources are exhausted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [We'd all like a reputation for generosity, and we'd all like to buy it cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-d-all-like-a-reputation-for-generosity-and-we-d-all-like-to-buy-it/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The reputation of generosity is to be purchased pretty cheap; it does not depend so much upon a man's general expense, as it does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-reputation-of-generosity-is-to-be-purchased-pretty-cheap-it-does/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [“Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527) was an Italian political philosopher, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/niccol-di-bernardo-dei-machiavelli-may-3-1469-june-21-1527-was-an/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“The truth is that Machiavelli did try to obtain a position from the Medici, but he did not write The Prince in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-truth-is-that-machiavelli-did-try-to-obtain-a-position-from-the/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-a-wise-prince-ought-to-adopt-such-a-course-that-his/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Such as they are, its ethics are those of Machiavelli's contemporaries; yet they cannot be said to be out of date so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/such-as-they-are-its-ethics-are-those-of-machiavelli-s-contemporaries/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Nicia: God send him the plague! Timoteo: Why? Nicia: So he'll get it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/nicia-god-send-him-the-plague-timoteo-why-nicia-so-he-ll-get-it/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“In The Prince Machiavelli mounts two distinct lines of intellectual and political attack, one against the baseness of Medicean statecraft, the other against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/in-the-prince-machiavelli-mounts-two-distinct-lines-of-intellectual/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“It is necessary’, he writes, for a prince to learn ‘how not to be good’ (Ch. XV). Machiavelli’s wording on this matter is extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-to-learn-how-not-to-be-good-ch/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [What's distinctively shocking about Machiavelli is that he didn't care. He believed not only that politicians must do evil in the name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/what-s-distinctively-shocking-about-machiavelli-is-that-he-didn-t/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [I'm Machiavelli's offspring, I'm the king of New York, king of the coast, one hand, I juggle them both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-m-machiavelli-s-offspring-i-m-the-king-of-new-york-king-of-the/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [“Make them fear you. Machiavelli said it nearly six hundred years ago, but it's still true. Every ruler should strive for his people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/make-them-fear-you-machiavelli-said-it-nearly-six-hundred-years-ago/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [The political tradition of ancient thought, filtered in Italy by Machiavelli, says one thing clearly: every prince needs allies, and the bigger the responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/the-political-tradition-of-ancient-thought-filtered-in-italy-by/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [Machiavelli taught me it was better to be feared than loved. Because if you are loved they sense you might be weak. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/machiavelli-taught-me-it-was-better-to-be-feared-than-loved-because/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [“Wasn’t it Machiavelli who said ‘Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-brasher/wasn-t-it-machiavelli-who-said-any-man-who-tries-to-be-good-all-the/) Darius Brasher ## More by Niccolò 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 Niccolò Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Generosity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. 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Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) Tony Elumelu > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I think more and more people are becoming much more sensitive to what they do with their money when they die, especially if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-think-more-and-more-people-are-becoming-much-more-sensitive-to-what/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [Children must early learn the the beauty of generosity. 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It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Browse all 3,867 Generosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If a prince wants to keep up a reputation for being generous, Machiavelli remarks: it is necessary for him not to neglect any possible means of sumptuous display; in so doing, such a prince will always use up all his resources in such displays and will be eventually obliged, if he wishes to maintain his reputation for generosity, to burden the people with excessive taxes and to do all those things one does to procure money. This will begin to make him hateful to his subjects and, if he becomes impoverished, he will be held in low regard by everyone. (Ch. 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