--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One can assess a prince’s intelligence by…" description: "\"“One can assess a prince’s intelligence by looking at the men with whom he surrounds himself.”\" — Niccolò Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_intelligence_one-can-assess-a-prince-s-intelligence-b_1661880.jpg" --- # One can assess a prince’s intelligence by looking at the… ![“One can assess a prince’s intelligence by looking at the men with whom he surrounds himself.” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_intelligence_one-can-assess-a-prince-s-intelligence-b_1661880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_intelligence_one-can-assess-a-prince-s-intelligence-b_1661880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_intelligence_one-can-assess-a-prince-s-intelligence-b_1661880.jpg) > ““One can assess a prince’s intelligence by looking at the men with whom he surrounds himself.”” [Niccolò 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. A ruler’s wisdom is reflected in the character of his advisors and companions. **In simple terms:** A leader’s intelligence shows in his chosen circle. Key Takeaway Choose wise companions. Themes leadership judgment influence Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - government - business leadership - personal development Key Concepts political theory social psychology Questions to Reflect On - Who influences your decisions? - Do you evaluate the character of those around you? A Different Perspective Surrounding yourself with only like‑minded people can limit perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assess Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assess-prince-766426/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-looking-766427/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Looking Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-men/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince/) [Prince Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-intelligence-766425/) ## Related quotes > [Well, having no intelligence, I'm looking forward to gaining some, whether artificial, superficial or super-duper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/well-having-no-intelligence-i-m-looking-forward-to-gaining-some/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [When I talk to a man, I can always tell what he's thinking by where he is looking. If he is looking at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/when-i-talk-to-a-man-i-can-always-tell-what-he-s-thinking-by-where-he/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“Being feared and not hated go well together, and the prince can always do this if he does not touch the property or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/being-feared-and-not-hated-go-well-together-and-the-prince-can-always/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“It's better to be impulsive than cautious; fortune is female and if you want to stay on top of her you have to slap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-s-better-to-be-impulsive-than-cautious-fortune-is-female-and-if/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Warraner would rather have been the king of nothing than the prince of something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/warraner-would-rather-have-been-the-king-of-nothing-than-the-prince/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“He waited, not turning away from what it meant, now, to be King. If he could give Laurent up, he could do this. Nikandros”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/he-waited-not-turning-away-from-what-it-meant-now-to-be-king-if-he/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“He didn't know why, but seeing her made him feel like a man. She was something out of a dream - a dream in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-didn-t-know-why-but-seeing-her-made-him-feel-like-a-man-she-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-becomes-a-prince-through-the-favour-of-the-people-should/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I may find my prince but my dad will always be my king...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-find-my-prince-but-my-dad-will-always-be-my-king/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A prince should suspect everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-prince-should-suspect-everything/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Although I was an imaginative child, prone to nightmares, I had persuaded my parents to take me to Madame Tussauds waxworks in London, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/although-i-was-an-imaginative-child-prone-to-nightmares-i-had/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I think the men in L.A. are very rugged, good-looking. Men in New York look metro with their manis and pedis and their Bruno…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-stanger/i-think-the-men-in-l-a-are-very-rugged-good-looking-men-in-new-york/) [Patti Stanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-stanger/) > [Men in a ship are always looking up, and men ashore are usually looking down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/men-in-a-ship-are-always-looking-up-and-men-ashore-are-usually/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [I think women don't trust good looking men as it would be a threat when u know there'd be other women hitting..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/i-think-women-don-t-trust-good-looking-men-as-it-would-be-a-threat/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) ## More by Niccolò 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 Niccolò Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Intelligence quotes > [If you can do anything for love there's no reason you can't do everything to someone you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayjay-guillermo/if-you-can-do-anything-for-love-there-s-no-reason-you-can-t-do/) [Jayjay Guillermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayjay-guillermo/) > [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) > [“If people fully understand you, they will think of you as a normal, if they half understand you, will think of you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-people-fully-understand-you-they-will-think-of-you-as-a-normal-if/) [M.F. 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