--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men walk almost always in the paths…" description: "\"Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_men-walk-almost-always-in-the-paths-trod_3094634.jpg" --- # Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others… ![“Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_men-walk-almost-always-in-the-paths-trod_3094634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_men-walk-almost-always-in-the-paths-trod_3094634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_men-walk-almost-always-in-the-paths-trod_3094634.jpg) > “Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.” [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 follow established routes, copying others’ actions rather than forging new paths. **In simple terms:** People imitate others. Key Takeaway Encourage original thinking and action. Themes conformity imitation leadership innovation Mood inspirational strategic thought‑provoking Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - business strategy - education reform - personal development - artistic creation Key Concepts social learning path dependence creativity Questions to Reflect On - How can one break free from habitual imitation? - What benefits arise from original paths? A Different Perspective Innovation requires risk and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-imitation-5336583/) [Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitation/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-walk-601931/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Paths Trodden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paths-trodden-4640945/) [Proceeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceeding/) [Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [“Frodo began to feel restless, and the old paths seemed too well-trodden. He looked at maps, and wondered what lay beyond their edges: maps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/frodo-began-to-feel-restless-and-the-old-paths-seemed-too-well/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/if-you-only-notice-human-proceedings-you-may-observe-that-all-who-2/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [As men do walk a mile, women should talk an hour, After supper. 'Tis their exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-beaumont/as-men-do-walk-a-mile-women-should-talk-an-hour-after-supper-tis/) [Francis Beaumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-beaumont/) > [Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/not-to-go-back-is-somewhat-to-advance-and-men-must-walk-at-least/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Think not to match yourself against the gods, for men that walk the earth cannot hold their own with the immortals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/think-not-to-match-yourself-against-the-gods-for-men-that-walk-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Three men walk into a bar. 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The men that walk daily among us, warming us, feeding us, walk shrouded in darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/are-not-our-greatest-men-as-good-as-lost-the-men-that-walk-daily/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Men will now get up and walk with the baby in the middle of the night, change its diapers, and give it a bottle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-will-now-get-up-and-walk-with-the-baby-in-the-middle-of-the-night/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) ## 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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