--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know better than I that in a Republic…" description: "\"You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his mediocrity prevents him from being..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/niccolo-machiavelli-368_competent_you-know-better-than-i-that-in-a-republi_1692712.jpg" --- # You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always… ![“You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his mediocrity prevents him from being a threat to others. And for this reason a democracy is never governed by the most competent, but rather by those whose insignificance will not…” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/niccolo-machiavelli-368_competent_you-know-better-than-i-that-in-a-republi_1692712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/niccolo-machiavelli-368_competent_you-know-better-than-i-that-in-a-republi_1692712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/niccolo-machiavelli-368_competent_you-know-better-than-i-that-in-a-republi_1692712.jpg) > “You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his mediocrity prevents him from being a threat to others. And for this reason a democracy is never governed by the most competent, but rather by those whose insignificance will not jeopardize anyone else's self-esteem.” [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. In a republic, mediocrity is often favored because it poses no threat to others' egos, limiting competent leadership. **In simple terms:** Power goes to the harmless, not the capable. Key Takeaway Beware of mediocrity in leadership. Themes politics leadership competence Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - corporate boards - government appointments Key Concepts social hierarchy ego dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies promote merit over safety? - What mechanisms protect against mediocrity? A Different Perspective Competent leaders can be suppressed by fear of change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Insignificance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificance/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [The government of man should be the monarchy of reason: it is too often the democracy of passions or the anarchy of humors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/the-government-of-man-should-be-the-monarchy-of-reason-it-is-too/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [“A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-great-deal-of-democratic-enthusiasm-descends-from-the-ideas-of/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Our democratic societies rest on a meritocratic worldview, or at any rate a meritocratic hope, by which I mean a belief in a society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/our-democratic-societies-rest-on-a-meritocratic-worldview-or-at-any/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [“The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-real-reason-for-democracy-is-just-the-reverse-mankind-is-so-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“. . . the only legitimate reason that kingship is not attractive to us is because in this age and this world the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-only-legitimate-reason-that-kingship-is-not-attractive-to-us-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-real-reason-for-democracy-is-just-the-reverse-mankind-is-so/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [ “I am a democrat \[proponent of democracy\] because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-am-a-democrat-proponent-of-democracy-because-i-believe-in-the-fall/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [There are times when the law jeopardizes those who obey it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/there-are-times-when-the-law-jeopardizes-those-who-obey-it/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [“Sometimes you have to risk life, in order to live, and gamble death, to sacrifice life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/sometimes-you-have-to-risk-life-in-order-to-live-and-gamble-death-to/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Just as there's some technologies that jeopardize revenue for traditional products, there are also technologies that can significantly lower costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-pearlstine/just-as-there-s-some-technologies-that-jeopardize-revenue-for/) [Norman Pearlstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-pearlstine/) > [The Masters is a very important tournament. You don't want to jeopardize your chances. The sponsors understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-appleby/the-masters-is-a-very-important-tournament-you-don-t-want-to/) [Stuart Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-appleby/) > [Israel must never be expected to jeopardize her security: if she was ever foolish enough to do so, and then suffered for it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/israel-must-never-be-expected-to-jeopardize-her-security-if-she-was/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I firmly believe that contemporary spiritual use of entheogenic drugs is one of humankind's brightest hopes for overcoming the ecological crisis from which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ott/i-firmly-believe-that-contemporary-spiritual-use-of-entheogenic-drugs/) Jonathan Ott > [I navigated the world as a hedge maze of constant fear and worry in which I might take the wrong turn and jeopardize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-navigated-the-world-as-a-hedge-maze-of-constant-fear-and-worry-in/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [We come to know best what men are, in their worse jeopardizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-daniel/we-come-to-know-best-what-men-are-in-their-worse-jeopardizes/) [Samuel Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-daniel/) ## 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 Competent quotes > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [You basically have a group of four spies who are chosen for a mission they feel for the fact of how competent they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-leblanc/you-basically-have-a-group-of-four-spies-who-are-chosen-for-a-mission/) [Matt LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-leblanc/) > [While photography is the easiest medium in which to be competent, it is the hardest in which to develop an idiosyncratic personal vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/while-photography-is-the-easiest-medium-in-which-to-be-competent-it/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [There's always, I guess, a philosophy that if you come in, you want to change all the parts, you want to change everything over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/there-s-always-i-guess-a-philosophy-that-if-you-come-in-you-want-to/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) > [If you are any competent musician, if you have creative ideas, ideas of songs, of arrangements, in a band like the Stones, where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/if-you-are-any-competent-musician-if-you-have-creative-ideas-ideas-of/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [I have so many positive points. I am not corrupt, I am competent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamilisai-soundararajan/i-have-so-many-positive-points-i-am-not-corrupt-i-am-competent/) [Tamilisai Soundararajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamilisai-soundararajan/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [As for mathematicians themselves: don't expect too much help. Most of them are too far removed in their ivory towers to take up such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apostolos-doxiadis/as-for-mathematicians-themselves-don-t-expect-too-much-help-most-of/) [Apostolos Doxiadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apostolos-doxiadis/) > [But medicine has long had all its means to hand, and has discovered both a principle and a method, through which the discoveries made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/but-medicine-has-long-had-all-its-means-to-hand-and-has-discovered/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One could count on one's fingers the number of scientists throughout the world with a general idea of the history and development of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/one-could-count-on-one-s-fingers-the-number-of-scientists-throughout/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) Browse all 395 Competent quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. 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