--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowing how to fight made men more bold…" description: "\"Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their cit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_knowing-how-to-fight-made-men-more-bold_1520614.jpg" --- # Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one… ![“Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_knowing-how-to-fight-made-men-more-bold_1520614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_knowing-how-to-fight-made-men-more-bold_1520614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_knowing-how-to-fight-made-men-more-bold_1520614.jpg) > “Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.” [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. Boldness stems from skill; training in conflict builds confidence, reducing fear of action. **In simple terms:** Training makes people brave. Key Takeaway Practice to gain confidence. Themes courage confidence training Mood determined assertive Type political philosophical When to use this quote - military drills - sports practice - public speaking - leadership development Key Concepts Machiavellian strategy psychology of fear Questions to Reflect On - How does skill affect fear? - When is boldness harmful? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Fight Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-men-1598398/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-fight-1165868/) [Learned Ancients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-ancients-5620214/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Bold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-bold-1837210/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Trained Warlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained-warlike-5620213/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“They are like men: if bold, the better of scolding; if timid, the better of praise and flattery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/they-are-like-men-if-bold-the-better-of-scolding-if-timid-the-better/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [Guilt is a timorous thing ere perpetration; despair alone makes guilty men be bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/guilt-is-a-timorous-thing-ere-perpetration-despair-alone-makes-guilty/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [If I get clear of my debts, I care not though men call me bold, glib of tongue, audacious, impudent, shameless, a fabricator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-i-get-clear-of-my-debts-i-care-not-though-men-call-me-bold-glib-of/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“Fight on my men,"says Sir Andrew Barton, I am hurt,but I am not slain; I'll lay me down and bleed a-while, And then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moore/fight-on-my-men-says-sir-andrew-barton-i-am-hurt-but-i-am-not-slain-i/) [Thomas Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moore/) > [I do not fight against men, but against the system that is sexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/i-do-not-fight-against-men-but-against-the-system-that-is-sexist/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [“. . . in a fight between two men, their wives were not allowed to step in and grab the testicles of the opponent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-bertsch/in-a-fight-between-two-men-their-wives-were-not-allowed-to-step-in/) [Wendy Bertsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-bertsch/) > [We do not abandon ship. I say, as corny as it may sound, through the strength and spirit and fire and dare and gamble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/we-do-not-abandon-ship-i-say-as-corny-as-it-may-sound-through-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I've seen men and women who were fit for combat that I wanted to fight beside, and men and women who I really wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-hegar/i-ve-seen-men-and-women-who-were-fit-for-combat-that-i-wanted-to/) [MJ Hegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-hegar/) > [“I am glad," he said, "that I do not dwell in your country among such savage peoples. Here, in Caspak, men fight with men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/i-am-glad-he-said-that-i-do-not-dwell-in-your-country-among-such/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [“when there are no battles to fight, men start to think about hearth and harvest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/when-there-are-no-battles-to-fight-men-start-to-think-about-hearth/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Love is..knowing that after every fight heôll still love you No Matter What](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karal/love-is-knowing-that-after-every-fight-he-ll-still-love-you-no-matter/) [Karal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karal/) > [Knowing when to fight is just as important as knowing how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/knowing-when-to-fight-is-just-as-important-as-knowing-how/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“The common bond of humanity and decency that we share is stronger than any conflict, any adversity, any challenge. Fighting for your convictions is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/the-common-bond-of-humanity-and-decency-that-we-share-is-stronger/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [There's nothing more calm in difficult moments than knowing there's some one fight with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christianquotes/there-s-nothing-more-calm-in-difficult-moments-than-knowing-there-s/) [ChristianQuotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christianquotes/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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