--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may be observed, that provinces amid…" description: "\"It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_it-may-be-observed-that-provinces-amid-t_2650588.jpg" --- # It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes… ![“It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection…” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_it-may-be-observed-that-provinces-amid-t_2650588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_it-may-be-observed-that-provinces-amid-t_2650588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_it-may-be-observed-that-provinces-amid-t_2650588.jpg) > “It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline.” [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. Societies cycle from order to chaos and back, declining after peak perfection. **In simple terms:** Civilizations rise, fall, and repeat. Key Takeaway Study patterns of societal change. Themes history political cycles decline Mood reflective serious Type historical analytical When to use this quote - policy making - urban planning - education reform Key Concepts philosophy sociology Questions to Reflect On - What triggers societal decline? - How can stability be sustained? A Different Perspective Predicting cycles is uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Allowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/) [Amid Vicissitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amid-vicissitudes-2347321/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mundane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mundane/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Observed Provinces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observed-provinces-2347323/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Provinces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provinces/) [Provinces Amid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provinces-amid-2347322/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Vicissitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicissitudes/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-may-be-observed-that-provinces-amid-the-vicissitudes-to-which-they/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-reason-is-that-nature-has-so-created-men-that-they-are-able-to/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/war-is-a-matter-of-vital-importance-to-the-state-the-province-of-life/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [When every province of the world so teems with inhabitants that they can neither subsist where they are nor remove themselves elsewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/when-every-province-of-the-world-so-teems-with-inhabitants-that-they-2/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. 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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/) > [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/) ## 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 Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; 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