--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to…" description: "\"Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg" --- # Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the… ![“Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg) > “Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves” [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. A ruler must be cunning like a fox to avoid traps and strong like a lion to deter enemies. **In simple terms:** Be clever and strong to lead successfully. Key Takeaway Balance cunning with authority. Themes leadership strategy power Mood determined strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - business competition - personal safety - conflict resolution Key Concepts political realism dual nature Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply fox-like caution without losing lion-like confidence? - When is strength more important than cunning? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on force can alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes/) [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) [Lion Terrify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion-terrify-1913572/) [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) [Necessary Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-fox-1913573/) [Snares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snares/) [Snares Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snares-lion-1913571/) [Terrify Wolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrify-wolves-1913570/) [Wolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wolves/) ## Related quotes > [A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prince-being-thus-obliged-to-know-well-how-to-act-as-a-beast-must/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Is it worth the lion's while to terrify the mouse?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/is-it-worth-the-lion-s-while-to-terrify-the-mouse/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prince-being-thus-obliged-to-know-well-how-to-act-as-a-beast-must-2/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-sober-people-of-america-are-weary-of-the-fluctuating-policy-which/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [He can best avoid a snare who knows how to set one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-can-best-avoid-a-snare-who-knows-how-to-set-one/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [FREE animals of the jungle/air/sea/mountains are called 'wild', 'savage', 'vicious', 'beasts' who defend themselves and their own territories from greedy, ruthless 'brave' men armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adela-popescu/free-animals-of-the-jungle-air-sea-mountains-are-called-wild-savage/) [Adela Popescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adela-popescu/) > [Hunting and fishing involve killing animals with devices (such as guns) for which the animals have not evolved natural defenses. No animal on earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/hunting-and-fishing-involve-killing-animals-with-devices-such-as-guns/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Satan, who is a wonderful contriver of delusions, is constantly laying snares to entrap ignorant and heedless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/satan-who-is-a-wonderful-contriver-of-delusions-is-constantly-laying/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Where did he go!” he bellowed, gloved hands clenching. “I had him in a snare that would take Alexander the Great a lifetime to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/where-did-he-go-he-bellowed-gloved-hands-clenching-i-had-him-in-a/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [The wolf dreads the pitfall, the hawk suspects the snare, and the kite the covered hook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-wolf-dreads-the-pitfall-the-hawk-suspects-the-snare-and-the-kite/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > ['Come hither, my boy, tell me what thou seest there?' 'A fool tangled in a religious snare.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/come-hither-my-boy-tell-me-what-thou-seest-there-a-fool-tangled-in-a/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [When we kissed, it didn't matter that I had been a wolf hours ago, or that I would be a wolf again. It didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/when-we-kissed-it-didn-t-matter-that-i-had-been-a-wolf-hours-ago-or/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I'm a Gemini, so there's two people in me. Straight up. There's the nerd who is totally zoned out in the studio, EQ-ing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-m-a-gemini-so-there-s-two-people-in-me-straight-up-there-s-the-nerd/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [Devil’s Snare, Devil’s Snare . . . what did Professor Sprout say? — it likes the dark and the damp —” “So light a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/devil-s-snare-devil-s-snare-what-did-professor-sprout-say-it-likes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And as she jogged out of sight, they could hear her muttering, "Tentacula. Devil's Snare. And Snargaluff pods. Yes, I'd like to see Death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-as-she-jogged-out-of-sight-they-could-hear-her-muttering/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Foxes quotes > [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [I did not support Operation Desert Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-did-not-support-operation-desert-fox/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [People realized that they could come on Fox News Sunday, and they would be well and fairly treated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/people-realized-that-they-could-come-on-fox-news-sunday-and-they/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [“Man is the Reasoning Animal. Such is the claim. I think it is open to dispute. Indeed, my experiments have proven to me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/man-is-the-reasoning-animal-such-is-the-claim-i-think-it-is-open-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Old foxes want no tutors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/old-foxes-want-no-tutors/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Calling Michelle 'Obama Barack's baby mama?' Tell me, is that acceptable? But the Obamas aren't the only targets. Fox's pattern of race-baiting and fear-mongering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/calling-michelle-obama-barack-s-baby-mama-tell-me-is-that-acceptable/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-not-at-all-like-my-rose-he-said-as-yet-you-are-nothing-no-one/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I've built a tree house; because of my architectural training, it's heavily over-designed, with an oriel window sticking out of it and flying foxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-wise/i-ve-built-a-tree-house-because-of-my-architectural-training-it-s/) [Greg Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-wise/) > [ I certainly don't feel like I have a monopoly on \[opinions\] because I have the job at FOX - any one of a thousand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/i-certainly-don-t-feel-like-i-have-a-monopoly-on-opinions-because-i/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [ I have to say, early on, to be fair, in the \[Barack\] Obama administration, the Obama White House said that Fox News was not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-to-say-early-on-to-be-fair-in-the-barack-obama-administration/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Donald Trump said he didn't think Megyn Kelly had been fair to him. But he also talked about Fox's response to this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/donald-trump-said-he-didn-t-think-megyn-kelly-had-been-fair-to-him/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [All that I did," she said, "everything I tried to do. All for nothing." Nothing is done entirely for nothing, said the fox of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/all-that-i-did-she-said-everything-i-tried-to-do-all-for-nothing/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I have to say that Adam Levine is truly a daring young man to go on Twitter to bash Fox News. He's so rebellious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-have-to-say-that-adam-levine-is-truly-a-daring-young-man-to-go-on/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) [Browse all 600 Foxes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to-discover-the-snares-and-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foxes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to-discover-the-snares-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/niccolo-machiavelli-368_foxes_therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to_2597173.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves” — 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": "Therefore, it is necessary to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to-discover-the-snares-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-it-is-necessary-to-be-a-fox-to-discover-the-snares-and-a/#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 } } ] } ```