--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thus it happens in matters of state; for…" description: "\"Thus it happens in matters of state; for knowing afar off (which it is only given a prudent man to do) the evils that are brewing, they are easily cure..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/niccolo-machiavelli-368_afar_thus-it-happens-in-matters-of-state-for_838514.jpg" --- # Thus it happens in matters of state; for knowing afar off… ![“Thus it happens in matters of state; for knowing afar off (which it is only given a prudent man to do) the evils that are brewing, they are easily cured. But when, for want of such knowledge, they are allowed to grow so that everyone can recognize them, there is no longer any remedy to be found.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/niccolo-machiavelli-368_afar_thus-it-happens-in-matters-of-state-for_838514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/niccolo-machiavelli-368_afar_thus-it-happens-in-matters-of-state-for_838514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/niccolo-machiavelli-368_afar_thus-it-happens-in-matters-of-state-for_838514.jpg) > “Thus it happens in matters of state; for knowing afar off (which it is only given a prudent man to do) the evils that are brewing, they are easily cured. But when, for want of such knowledge, they are allowed to grow so that everyone can recognize them, there is no longer any remedy to be found.” [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 who ignore distant threats let problems grow unchecked, making later remedies impossible. **In simple terms:** Ignoring distant problems leads to unfixable crises. Key Takeaway Address issues early. Themes politics leadership prevention Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - Statecraft - policy planning - early warning systems Key Concepts Strategic foresight risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders stay vigilant? - What early signs indicate hidden dangers? A Different Perspective Some problems are unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afar/) [Brewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brewing/) [Cured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cured/) [Cured Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cured-want-621558/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowledge Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-allowed-621560/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prudent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudent/) [Remedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remedy/) [State Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-knowing-621559/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Before we can be cured, we must want to be cured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/before-we-can-be-cured-we-must-want-to-be-cured/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [ My intimate knowledge of the \[UN\] system allowed me to get things done despite the many obstacles. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/my-intimate-knowledge-of-the-un-system-allowed-me-to-get-things-done/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Most people tell you they want to get out of kindergarten, but don't believe them. Don't believe them! All they want you to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/most-people-tell-you-they-want-to-get-out-of-kindergarten-but-don-t/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Before we can be cured we must want to be cured. Those who really wish for help will get it; but for many modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-we-can-be-cured-we-must-want-to-be-cured-those-who-really-wish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And what physicians say about disease is applicable here: that at the beginning a disease is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/and-what-physicians-say-about-disease-is-applicable-here-that-at-the-2/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [And what physicians say about disease is applicable here: that at the beginning a disease is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/and-what-physicians-say-about-disease-is-applicable-here-that-at-the/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Nothing is quite as intoxicating as the smell of bacon frying in the morning, save perhaps the smell of coffee brewing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-beard/nothing-is-quite-as-intoxicating-as-the-smell-of-bacon-frying-in-the/) [James Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-beard/) > [Brewing a good cuppa is something not everyone can do, and I loathe bad tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/brewing-a-good-cuppa-is-something-not-everyone-can-do-and-i-loathe/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I am the outcast come home to roost and the eggs of tomorrow are incubating in my fame. You hate me, you love me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-the-outcast-come-home-to-roost-and-the-eggs-of-tomorrow-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have wished to see chemistry applied to domestic objects, to malting, for instance, brewing, making cider, to fermentation and distillation generally, to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-wished-to-see-chemistry-applied-to-domestic-objects-to-malting/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If it's either food or woodworking or brewing... I particularly like making things that I can share with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/if-it-s-either-food-or-woodworking-or-brewing-i-particularly-like/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [I'm always writing. There is always a story brewing in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/i-m-always-writing-there-is-always-a-story-brewing-in-my-head/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/gimme-a-pigfoot-and-a-bottle-of-beer/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [They still talk about the night that Augie Pabst, a fresh-faced heir to the brewing fortune, drove a rented Falcon into the swimming pool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/they-still-talk-about-the-night-that-augie-pabst-a-fresh-faced-heir/) [Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/) > [There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/there-s-always-another-storm-it-s-the-way-the-world-works-snowstorms/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) ## 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 Afar quotes > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [“Can I like you from afar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-bernardino/can-i-like-you-from-afar/) [Bianca Bernardino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-bernardino/) > [Religion exalts mystery as an unknowable secret that must be sealed in glass like the corpse of an enchanted princess and fearfully worshipped from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lon-milo-duquette/religion-exalts-mystery-as-an-unknowable-secret-that-must-be-sealed/) [Lon Milo DuQuette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lon-milo-duquette/) > [Ah, my brother, it is a far harder thing, and it is afar higher proof of a thorough-going, persistent, Christian principle woven into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-my-brother-it-is-a-far-harder-thing-and-it-is-afar-higher-proof-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blessed-is-the-servant-who-loves-his-brother-as-much-when-he-is-sick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-but-not-least-my-family-my-brother-tony-i-love-you-thank-you-for/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I wasn't a 'Battlestar' fan, but I had a lot of respect for the show. I had a lot of friends who worked on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-roiz/i-wasn-t-a-battlestar-fan-but-i-had-a-lot-of-respect-for-the-show-i/) [Sasha Roiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-roiz/) > [Kindle the taper like the steadfast star Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth, And add each night a lustre till afar An eightfold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-lazarus/kindle-the-taper-like-the-steadfast-star-ablaze-on-evening-s-forehead/) [Emma Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-lazarus/) > [Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/our-birth-is-but-a-sleep-and-a-forgetting-the-soul-that-rises-with-us-2/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [There is so much more to the things that we think we know from afar. The close you get the more complex it is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meiselas/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-things-that-we-think-we-know-from-afar/) [Susan Meiselas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meiselas/) > [There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-good-government-when-those-who-are-near-are-made-happy-and/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I like Stella McCartney, Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Aaron Featherstone, normal Chanel if I can ever afford it, I'd be wearing that all the time!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-like-stella-mccartney-chloe-alexander-mcqueen-aaron-featherstone/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [The New England Patriots have always been a special organization and I've always watched from afar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/the-new-england-patriots-have-always-been-a-special-organization-and/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Time past, present, and to come, as also depth and height, near and afar off, are all one in God, one comprehensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/time-past-present-and-to-come-as-also-depth-and-height-near-and-afar/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [In the glory which overhangs Palestine afar off, we imagine emotions which never come, when we tread the soil and walk over the hallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/in-the-glory-which-overhangs-palestine-afar-off-we-imagine-emotions/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) [Browse all 212 Afar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thus it happens in matters of state; for knowing afar off (which it is only given a prudent man to do) the evils that are brewing, they are easily cured. 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