--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men are always averse to enterprises in…" description: "\"Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in_45669.jpg" --- # Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee… ![“Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in_45669.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in_45669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in_45669.jpg) > “Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.” [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. People tend to avoid ventures they anticipate will be hard, letting fear of difficulty outweigh potential reward. **In simple terms:** Fear of difficulty discourages initiative. Key Takeaway Anticipated hardship blocks action. Themes psychology risk aversion leadership motivation decision making Mood cautious reflective skeptical Type proverb observation advice When to use this quote - starting a business - launching a product - pursuing a career change - investing in a new market - leading a team through uncertainty Key Concepts human behavior strategic planning cognitive bias Practical Applications - risk assessment - motivational coaching Questions to Reflect On - What strategies can overcome fear of difficulty? - How does this bias affect innovation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Difficulties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulties/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [We've become a country that is often risk averse. That's not the way to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-moran/we-ve-become-a-country-that-is-often-risk-averse-that-s-not-the-way/) [Jerry Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-moran/) > [I'm not averse to a bit of travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-t-fagbenle/i-m-not-averse-to-a-bit-of-travel/) [O. T. Fagbenle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-t-fagbenle/) > [“Averse alike to flatter, or offend; Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/averse-alike-to-flatter-or-offend-not-free-from-faults-nor-yet-too/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I've always been very averse to innuendo, especially sexual. I find it cowardly or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-ve-always-been-very-averse-to-innuendo-especially-sexual-i-find-it/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'm still conflict-averse. I don't like to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/i-m-still-conflict-averse-i-don-t-like-to-argue/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The civil service are risk averse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-civil-service-are-risk-averse/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [“Why are you always so averse to fiction, when we’ve made it our meal ticket?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/why-are-you-always-so-averse-to-fiction-when-we-ve-made-it-our-meal/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“It's like you're averse to adventure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/it-s-like-you-re-averse-to-adventure/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [I'm not averse to telling people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-m-not-averse-to-telling-people-off/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/no-enterprise-is-more-likely-to-succeed-than-one-concealed-from-the/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Lifes difficulties can seem overwhelming, and you may face times when problems seem encompassing. 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At some points they were really good, but also had some difficulties like a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-have-always-followed-arsenal-in-the-premier-league-at-some-points/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [One of the difficulties of photography is that it is much better at being explicit than at being reticent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/one-of-the-difficulties-of-photography-is-that-it-is-much-better-at/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) ## 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; 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. 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