--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One man should not be afraid of improving…" description: "\"One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new busin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_one-man-should-not-be-afraid-of-improvin_2074026.jpg" --- # One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions… ![“One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of…” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_one-man-should-not-be-afraid-of-improvin_2074026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_one-man-should-not-be-afraid-of-improvin_2074026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/niccolo-machiavelli-368_business_one-man-should-not-be-afraid-of-improvin_2074026.jpg) > “One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state.” [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. Leaders should protect property rights and keep taxes reasonable to foster entrepreneurship and prosperity. **In simple terms:** Encourage business by protecting assets and limiting taxes. Key Takeaway Support owners, lower burdens. Themes property rights tax policy entrepreneurship prosperity Mood pragmatic strategic Type political economic When to use this quote - urban development - small business startups - tax reform - investment incentives Key Concepts political theory economic incentives statecraft Questions to Reflect On - What tax level best balances revenue and growth? - How to ensure protection without corruption? A Different Perspective Excessive leniency may lead to inequality or abuse of power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Endeavour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavour/) [High taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-taxes/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [New business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-business/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Starting new business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-new-business/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [“Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg agreed. “We reward men every step of the way—for being leaders, for being assertive, for taking risks, for being competitive,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/facebook-s-sheryl-sandberg-agreed-we-reward-men-every-step-of-the-way/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. 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Serial entrepreneurs keep starting new business as much for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-kotler/that-s-why-people-who-seek-out-group-flow-often-join-startups-or-work/) [Steven Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-kotler/) > [“Low-skilled workers tend to bid down wages for low-skilled work, which sounds bad until you remember that this lowers the cost of the products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-watkins/low-skilled-workers-tend-to-bid-down-wages-for-low-skilled-work-which/) [Don Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-watkins/) > [Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/chase-the-vision-not-the-money-the-money-will-end-up-following-you/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [I think it's a competitive advantage that both Amazon and Google and other tech companies have over a lot of their counterparts. They take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/i-think-it-s-a-competitive-advantage-that-both-amazon-and-google-and/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [If you talk to anyone involved in business - forget banks and big business - talk to small businesses - do it yourself, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/if-you-talk-to-anyone-involved-in-business-forget-banks-and-big/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [When starting a new business, people get blinders on. They have an idea, they stick to the idea, but they don't test it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jj-ramberg/when-starting-a-new-business-people-get-blinders-on-they-have-an-idea/) [JJ Ramberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jj-ramberg/) > [Each time we go through a major life change (getting married or divorced, moving, having a family, switching careers, starting a new business, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-morgenstern/each-time-we-go-through-a-major-life-change-getting-married-or/) [Julie Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-morgenstern/) ## 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 Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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