--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That defense alone is effectual, sure and…" description: "\"“That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valour.”\" — Niccolò Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg" --- # That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which… ![“That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valour.” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg) > ““That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valour.”” [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. Self‑reliance and personal bravery are the foundation of lasting, effective defense. **In simple terms:** Defense needs personal bravery. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner strength and courage. Themes defense self‑reliance valor durability leadership Mood reflective strategic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - military strategy - personal development - leadership training Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal bravery with institutional strength? - When is humility more effective than valor? A Different Perspective Overreliance on personal valor may ignore systemic support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Self help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-help/) [Valour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valour/) ## Related quotes > [...it is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-a-base-thing-to-look-to-others-for-your-defense-instead-of/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [In the second century of the Christian era, the Empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilised portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-second-century-of-the-christian-era-the-empire-of-rome/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [I am not carrying on a war of extermination against the Romans. I am contending for honor and empire. My ancestors yielded to Roman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal/i-am-not-carrying-on-a-war-of-extermination-against-the-romans-i-am/) [Hannibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal/) > [These idle disputants overlooked the invariable laws of nature, which have connected peace with innocence, plenty with industry, and safety with valour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/these-idle-disputants-overlooked-the-invariable-laws-of-nature-which/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Let me say this about courage under fire. In my experience, valour in action counts for far less than simply performing one’s commonplace task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/let-me-say-this-about-courage-under-fire-in-my-experience-valour-in/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-desire-which-urges-us-to-deserve-praise-strengthens-our-good/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [How can a man commit acts of martial valour if he values his life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torii-mototada/how-can-a-man-commit-acts-of-martial-valour-if-he-values-his-life/) [Torii Mototada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torii-mototada/) > [“Can you not see that we still might win? We lost a battle, not a war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-essex/can-you-not-see-that-we-still-might-win-we-lost-a-battle-not-a-war/) [Karen Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-essex/) > [Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/where-it-is-permissible-both-to-die-and-not-to-die-it-is-an-abuse-of/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Nothing short of the Almighty Power of God can Save us - it is not in our Numbers, our Union, or our Valour that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-clark/nothing-short-of-the-almighty-power-of-god-can-save-us-it-is-not-in/) [Abraham Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-clark/) > [“Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one would do before all the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-valour-is-to-do-without-witnesses-what-one-would-do-before/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Valour begot respect, whether in life or in the aftermath of death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/valour-begot-respect-whether-in-life-or-in-the-aftermath-of-death/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [I do not admire a virtue like valour when it is pushed to excess, if I do not see at the same time the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-do-not-admire-a-virtue-like-valour-when-it-is-pushed-to-excess-if-i/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/indeed-the-crowning-proof-of-their-valour-and-their-strength-is-that/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have to be earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/nothing-of-real-worth-can-ever-be-bought-love-friendship-honour/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) ## 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 Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valour.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolò Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and-durable-which-depends-upon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and-durable-which-depends-upon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/niccolo-machiavelli-368_defense_that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and_1039455.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valour.” — Niccolò 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": "Niccolò Machiavelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That defense alone is effectual, sure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and-durable-which-depends-upon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-defense-alone-is-effectual-sure-and-durable-which-depends-upon/#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 } } ] } ```