--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is necessary’, he writes, for a prince…" description: "\"“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 precise: a man who..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg" --- # It is necessary’, he writes, for a prince to learn ‘how… ![“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 precise: a man who wants ‘to profess goodness at all times’ will inevitably fail because he is surrounded by many unscrupulous men. Hence, ‘it is necessary for a…” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg) > ““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 precise: a man who wants ‘to profess goodness at all times’ will inevitably fail because he is surrounded by many unscrupulous men. Hence, ‘it is necessary for a prince who wishes to maintain himself to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge or not to use it according to necessity’ (Ch. XV).”” [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 must sometimes act immorally, as constant virtue is impossible among deceitful subjects; pragmatism overrides idealism. **In simple terms:** Rulers may need to be immoral to survive. Key Takeaway Adapt ethics to political reality. Themes politics morality pragmatism leadership power Mood cautious thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government decision‑making - diplomacy - crisis leadership - ethical training Key Concepts Realpolitik ethical flexibility statecraft Questions to Reflect On - When is moral compromise justified? - What are the long‑term costs of immorality? A Different Perspective Idealistic morality can erode trust and legitimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli/) [Machiavelli Wording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli-wording-4800818/) [Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary/) [Necessary Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-prince-934725/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) ## Related quotes > [A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-man-who-wishes-to-make-a-profession-of-goodness-in-everything-must/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-necessary-for-a-prince-wishing-to-hold-his-own-to-know-how-to/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“For how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-how-we-live-is-so-far-removed-from-how-we-ought-to-live-that-he/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is necessary that the prince should know how to color his nature well, and how to be a hypocrite and dissembler. For men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-necessary-that-the-prince-should-know-how-to-color-his-nature/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“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/) > [“If a prince wants to keep up a reputation for being generous, Machiavelli remarks: it is necessary for him not to neglect any possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/if-a-prince-wants-to-keep-up-a-reputation-for-being-generous/) [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/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 King quotes > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-brasher/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [Kenny King, his character on TV is him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/kenny-king-his-character-on-tv-is-him/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [They say that the commons of England would first destroy the king's friends and afterward himself, and then bring the Duke of York to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cade/they-say-that-the-commons-of-england-would-first-destroy-the-king-s/) [Jack Cade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cade/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I never knew about racial segregation until Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-never-knew-about-racial-segregation-until-martin-luther-king/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [President Obama's achievements and failures must be evaluated by comparison to those chief executives who have come before him and not be measured against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/president-obama-s-achievements-and-failures-must-be-evaluated-by/) [David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [Rest in peace, King Kong Bundy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-waltman/rest-in-peace-king-kong-bundy/) [Sean Waltman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-waltman/) > [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Be a Kingmaker, Not Just a King.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-seow-how/be-a-kingmaker-not-just-a-king/) [Tan Seow How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-seow-how/) > [Being happy is better than being a King...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-sibiya/being-happy-is-better-than-being-a-king/) [Elton Sibiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-sibiya/) > [I'm like a big kid. But it's not like a called myself the Instagram King. I put up what people want to see and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bilzerian/i-m-like-a-big-kid-but-it-s-not-like-a-called-myself-the-instagram/) [Dan Bilzerian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bilzerian/) [Browse all 2,520 King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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 precise: a man who wants ‘to profess goodness at all times’ will inevitably fail because he is surrounded by many unscrupulous men. Hence, ‘it is necessary for a prince who wishes to maintain himself to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge or not to use it according to necessity’ (Ch. XV).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolò Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-to-learn-how-not-to-be-good-ch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "King" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-to-learn-how-not-to-be-good-ch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_it-is-necessary-he-writes-for-a-prince-t_585090.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is necessary’, he writes, for a prince to learn ‘how not to be good’ (Ch. 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