--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men rise from one ambition to another…" description: "\"Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg" --- # Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to… ![“Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg) > “Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.” [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 first seek security, then turn to aggression, showing a cycle of ambition and conflict. **In simple terms:** Security leads to aggression. Key Takeaway Balance safety with ethical action. Themes power ambition conflict Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - leadership training - policy making - conflict resolution - personal goal setting Key Concepts political theory human nature ethics Questions to Reflect On - What drives the shift from self‑protection to aggression? - How can leaders break this cycle? A Different Perspective Aggression can destabilize societies if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) [Attack Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack-attack-596953/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-rise-1458762/) [Rise Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-ambition-4821990/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) ## Related quotes > [May we now all rise and sing the eternal school hymn: "Attack. Attack. Attack Attack Attack!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/may-we-now-all-rise-and-sing-the-eternal-school-hymn-attack-attack/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [The first essential for an attack is the will to attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savielly-tartakower/the-first-essential-for-an-attack-is-the-will-to-attack/) [Savielly Tartakower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savielly-tartakower/) > [To beat opposing teams, you have to attack, and to attack, you have to take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/to-beat-opposing-teams-you-have-to-attack-and-to-attack-you-have-to/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [Attack! Always Attack!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-anderssen/attack-always-attack/) [Adolf Anderssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-anderssen/) > [The true picture of life as it is, if it could be adequately painted, would show men what they are, and how they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it-could-be-adequately-painted/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-often-enables-men-to-rise-from-a-private-station-to-that-rank/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It has already been observed that women, wherever placed, however high or low in the scale of cultivation, hold the destinies of human kind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/it-has-already-been-observed-that-women-wherever-placed-however-high/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [Men of noble birth are noted to be envious towards new men when they rise. For the distance is altered, and it is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/men-of-noble-birth-are-noted-to-be-envious-towards-new-men-when-they/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The expression working like a dog dates back to a time in America when men would rise early, then lie around all day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/the-expression-working-like-a-dog-dates-back-to-a-time-in-america/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I hold it truth, with him who sings To one clear harp in divers tones, That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-hold-it-truth-with-him-who-sings-to-one-clear-harp-in-divers-tones/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The effects of opposition are wonderful. There are men who rise refreshed on hearing of a threat, men to whom a crisis, which intimidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-effects-of-opposition-are-wonderful-there-are-men-who-rise/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Men may rise on stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/men-may-rise-on-stepping-stones-of-their-dead-selves-to-higher-things/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [“For men rise or fall based entirely on what the women in their lives demand of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wright/for-men-rise-or-fall-based-entirely-on-what-the-women-in-their-lives/) [Kim Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wright/) > [Having glimpsed a small part of life, men rise up and disappear as smoke, knowing only what each one has learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empedocles/having-glimpsed-a-small-part-of-life-men-rise-up-and-disappear-as/) [Empedocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empedocles/) > [It is not easy for men to rise whose qualities are thwarted by poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/it-is-not-easy-for-men-to-rise-whose-qualities-are-thwarted-by-poverty/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) ## 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 Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-first-they-seek-to-secure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-first-they-seek-to-secure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ambition_men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-fi_3010003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they…” — Niccolo Machiavelli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men rise from one ambition to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-first-they-seek-to-secure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-rise-from-one-ambition-to-another-first-they-seek-to-secure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```