--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …those who become princes through their…" description: "\"…those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg" --- # …those who become princes through their skill acquire the… ![“…those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg) > “…those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.” [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. Skilled individuals can attain power with difficulty, yet once obtained, it is easily retained. **In simple terms:** Power is hard to gain but easy to keep. Key Takeaway Develop skill to secure lasting influence. Themes power skill leadership Mood strategic reflective Type political leadership When to use this quote - career advancement - political campaigns - organizational leadership Key Concepts political theory strategic management Questions to Reflect On - What skills are essential for gaining power? - How can leaders avoid becoming complacent? A Different Perspective Power can be lost through complacency despite easy retention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Acquire Pricipality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire-pricipality-3599205/) [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease/) [Hold Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-ease-3599207/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pricipality Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pricipality-difficulty-3599208/) [Princes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princes/) [Princes Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princes-skill-3599206/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) ## Related quotes > [Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/princes-should-delegate-to-others-the-enactment-of-unpopular-measures/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-princes-who-have-done-great-things-are-the-ones-who-have-taken/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/to-know-well-the-nature-of-the-people-one-must-be-a-prince-and-to/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prince-ought-to-have-no-other-aim-or-thought-nor-select-anything/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/you-have-to-be-a-prince-to-understand-the-people-and-you-have-to/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and its ordering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prince-must-not-have-any-objective-nor-any-thought-nor-take-up-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [In our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/in-our-own-days-we-have-seen-no-princes-accomplish-great-results-save/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can.but when they cannot do so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-wish-to-acquire-is-in-truth-very-natural-and-common-and-men/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-wish-to-acquire-more-is-admittedly-a-very-natural-and-common/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Princes know themselves to be princes, and are not snobs; besides, they believe themselves to be so far above everything that is not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/princes-know-themselves-to-be-princes-and-are-not-snobs-besides-they/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Princes have but their titles for their glories, An outward honor for an inward toil; And, for unfelt imaginations, They often feel a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/princes-have-but-their-titles-for-their-glories-an-outward-honor-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“This is how things come to pass in the world,' one of the princes is supposed to have said. 'Blood flows one way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-kadar/this-is-how-things-come-to-pass-in-the-world-one-of-the-princes-is/) [Ismail Kadare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-kadar/) > [Spies are the ears and eyes of Princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/spies-are-the-ears-and-eyes-of-princes/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Two princes each one fair." \*Walks toward the princes\* "No get the hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-gleason/two-princes-each-one-fair-walks-toward-the-princes-no-get-the-hair/) [Joanna Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-gleason/) ## 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 Acquire quotes > [Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/most-people-seek-after-what-they-do-not-possess-and-are-enslaved-by/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [This was Shakespeare's form ; Who walk'd in every path of human life, Felt every passion ; and to all mankind Doth now, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/this-was-shakespeare-s-form-who-walk-d-in-every-path-of-human-life/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [Wasn't Saddam destroyed? Wasn't Gaddafi liquidated? Didn't Milosevic go to the Hague? All true. But Stalin survived. Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. 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No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide ranging your experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-can-t-know-it-all-no-matter-how-smart-you-are-no-matter-how/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. 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To acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harner/shamanism-is-a-path-of-knowledge-not-of-faith-and-that-knowledge/) [Michael Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harner/) [Browse all 1,020 Acquire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "…those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/those-who-become-princes-through-their-skill-acquire-the-pricipality/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/those-who-become-princes-through-their-skill-acquire-the-pricipality/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/niccolo-machiavelli-368_acquire_those-who-become-princes-through-their-s_401555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“…those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it…” — 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": "…those who become princes through their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/those-who-become-princes-through-their-skill-acquire-the-pricipality/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/those-who-become-princes-through-their-skill-acquire-the-pricipality/#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 } } ] } ```