--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: CHAPTER VI Concerning New Principalities…" description: "\"“CHAPTER VI Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms And Ability LET no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new prin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_ability_chapter-vi-concerning-new-principalities_1464888.jpg" --- # CHAPTER VI Concerning New Principalities Which Are… ![“CHAPTER VI Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms And Ability LET no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others…” quote by Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_ability_chapter-vi-concerning-new-principalities_1464888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_ability_chapter-vi-concerning-new-principalities_1464888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_ability_chapter-vi-concerning-new-principalities_1464888.jpg) > ““CHAPTER VI Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms And Ability LET no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate. A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.”” [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Machiavelli advises emulating great leaders and aiming beyond one’s current limits, using higher aspirations to achieve otherwise unreachable goals. **In simple terms:** Imitate great leaders and aim higher than your current ability. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and set ambitious goals. Themes leadership ambition strategy Mood inspirational strategic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal development - military tactics Key Concepts role modeling goal setting Questions to Reflect On - Who are your exemplary mentors? - How can you balance ambition with realistic planning? A Different Perspective Over‑ambition can lead to failure if resources are insufficient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Chapter Vi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapter-vi-1720326/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Imitation Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitation-deeds-5301407/) [New Principalities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-principalities-5301405/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Principalities Acquired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principalities-acquired-5301406/) [Principalities Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principalities-shall-5301404/) [Reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach/) [Too far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-far/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [“CHAPTER VI—A CHAPTER IN WHICH THEY ADORE EACH OTHER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/chapter-vi-a-chapter-in-which-they-adore-each-other/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Followers want to be taken care of. Leaders want to take care of others. We can all be leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/followers-want-to-be-taken-care-of-leaders-want-to-take-care-of/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [People tell me I am brave. People tell me I am strong. People tell me good job. Well here is the truth of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis/people-tell-me-i-am-brave-people-tell-me-i-am-strong-people-tell-me/) [Katie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Good leaders must become what they want their followers to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/good-leaders-must-become-what-they-want-their-followers-to-become/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [One advantage to having a kid on the spectrum: they tend to be rule followers. Socially, things are harder for them than most kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-advantage-to-having-a-kid-on-the-spectrum-they-tend-to-be-rule/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [“Everybody goes where everybody goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vato/everybody-goes-where-everybody-goes/) [Thomas Vato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vato/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Followers of the occult believe in only what they already know, and in those things that confirm what they have already learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/followers-of-the-occult-believe-in-only-what-they-already-know-and-in/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [When I'm on Twitter, we just talk to people. I call all my Twitter followers my 'Twitter babies.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rozonda-thomas/when-i-m-on-twitter-we-just-talk-to-people-i-call-all-my-twitter/) [Rozonda Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rozonda-thomas/) > [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers & think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by Nicolo Machiavelli > [“He who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/he-who-is-highly-esteemed-is-not-easily-conspired-against/) [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) > [“...never in peaceful times stand idle..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle/) [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) > [“As a general thing anyone who is not your friend will advise neutrality while anyone who is your friend will ask you to join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/as-a-general-thing-anyone-who-is-not-your-friend-will-advise/) [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) > [“...against my will, my fate, A throne unsettled, and an infant state, Bid me defend my realms with all my pow'rs, And guard with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/against-my-will-my-fate-a-throne-unsettled-and-an-infant-state-bid-me/) [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) > [“There is no other way of guarding against adulation, than to make people understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/there-is-no-other-way-of-guarding-against-adulation-than-to-make/) [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) > [“Thus it will always happen that he who is not your friend will demand your neutrality, whilst he who is your friend will entreat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/thus-it-will-always-happen-that-he-who-is-not-your-friend-will-demand/) [Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 7 Nicolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“CHAPTER VI Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms And Ability LET no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate. A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it. 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