---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it has been of great moment…"
description: "\"Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is…

![“Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg)

> “Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.”

[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.

Strategic misinformation can demoralize opponents and shift battle outcomes in your favor.

**In simple terms:** Spreading false news can win wars.

Key Takeaway

Use information wisely to influence conflict.

Themes

politics war psychology strategy

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

strategic historical

When to use this quote

- military campaigns
- political elections
- corporate negotiations
- media battles

Key Concepts

propaganda psychological warfare leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- How might truth undermine this tactic?
- When is honesty more effective?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on deception can backfire if truth emerges.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Great moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-moments/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/every-little-advantage-is-of-great-moment-when-men-have-to-come-to/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [If white and black and red and brown can come together to focus our energies on overcoming the racial malaise that persists, then this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/if-white-and-black-and-red-and-brown-can-come-together-to-focus-our/)

[Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/)

> [When the most important times are occurring, we don't even recognize them or notice. We are just busy living our lives. Only looking back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/when-the-most-important-times-are-occurring-we-don-t-even-recognize/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> [A baseball field must be the most beautiful thing in the world. It's so honest and precise. And we play on it. Every star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lefebvre/a-baseball-field-must-be-the-most-beautiful-thing-in-the-world-it-s/)

Jim Lefebvre

> [It is a great moment in every freak's life when he or she finds out that at least they are not the only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/it-is-a-great-moment-in-every-freak-s-life-when-he-or-she-finds-out/)

[Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/)

> [A great moment of clarity when I realized I'm dying. There's no reason to wait to do the things we want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/a-great-moment-of-clarity-when-i-realized-i-m-dying-there-s-no-reason/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

> [When a great moment knocks on the door of your life, it is often no louder than the beating of your heart, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/when-a-great-moment-knocks-on-the-door-of-your-life-it-is-often-no/)

[Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/)

> [a great moment raises most of the people who experience it, to its own level; and that is why they do not always recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/a-great-moment-raises-most-of-the-people-who-experience-it-to-its-own/)

[Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/)

> [Heaven, on occasion, half opens its arms to us; and that is the great moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/heaven-on-occasion-half-opens-its-arms-to-us-and-that-is-the-great/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [You can have a good moment with a parent you are estranged from, and you have a great moment, and then the next time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sherman-palladino/you-can-have-a-good-moment-with-a-parent-you-are-estranged-from-and/)

[Amy Sherman-Palladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sherman-palladino/)

> [When a great moment arises, it is great to be right there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-a-great-moment-arises-it-is-great-to-be-right-there/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I suppose that each of us may have a great moment in our life, a month, a week a year, when we are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/i-suppose-that-each-of-us-may-have-a-great-moment-in-our-life-a-month/)

[Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/)

> [I feel that special secret current between the public and me. I can hold them with one little note in the air, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rubinstein/i-feel-that-special-secret-current-between-the-public-and-me-i-can/)

[Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rubinstein/)

> [I'm the leading scorer in the cup, and that's lovely, but don't forget this is also a great moment for the whole squad, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-del-piero/i-m-the-leading-scorer-in-the-cup-and-that-s-lovely-but-don-t-forget/)

[Alessandro Del Piero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-del-piero/)

## 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 Army quotes

> [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/)

[William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/)

> [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

[Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-while-the-fight-is-going-on-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Army"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-while-the-fight-is-going-on-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/niccolo-machiavelli-368_army_sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-wh_2304629.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the…” — 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": "Sometimes it has been of great...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-while-the-fight-is-going-on-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/sometimes-it-has-been-of-great-moment-while-the-fight-is-going-on-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
