--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...never in peaceful times stand idle.." description: "\"“...never in peaceful times stand idle..”\" — Nicolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg" --- # ...never in peaceful times stand idle.. ![“...never in peaceful times stand idle..” quote by Nicolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg) > ““...never in peaceful times stand idle..”” [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. Even in peace, one must stay vigilant and active. **In simple terms:** Stay active, even when times are calm. Key Takeaway Never become complacent. Themes vigilance activity leadership Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - business planning - personal development - crisis prevention Key Concepts political strategy proactive mindset Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise from inactivity? - How can you stay proactive during calm? A Different Perspective Idle periods can breed weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peaceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful/) [Peaceful Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful-times-4691527/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand/) [Stand Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-idle-4120353/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“It probably wouldn't last. It never does. But it would come back around again. That's how life works. And that's why it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ferris/it-probably-wouldn-t-last-it-never-does-but-it-would-come-back-around/) [Jean Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ferris/) > [As a CEO, you have to take the active action to force most of your resources to stand idle from time to time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-goldratt/as-a-ceo-you-have-to-take-the-active-action-to-force-most-of-your/) [Eliyahu Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-goldratt/) > [Go, all of you poor people, in the name of God the Creator, and let him forever be your guide. And henceforth, do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/go-all-of-you-poor-people-in-the-name-of-god-the-creator-and-let-him/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [No worse fate can befall a young man or woman than becoming prematurely entrenched in prudence and negation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/no-worse-fate-can-befall-a-young-man-or-woman-than-becoming/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“When those we love are in question, our prudence invents every sort of madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-those-we-love-are-in-question-our-prudence-invents-every-sort-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ “\[Fiscal prudence\] means spending wisely, reducing waste, collecting sufficient taxes to pay for the public goods and services we want, keeping budgets in relative… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-himelfarb/fiscal-prudence-means-spending-wisely-reducing-waste-collecting/) [Alex Himelfarb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-himelfarb/) > [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/) > [Old age likes to dwell in the recollections of the past, and, mistaking, the speedy march of years, often is inclined to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/old-age-likes-to-dwell-in-the-recollections-of-the-past-and-mistaking/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) > [The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of thegreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-must-submit-to-the-dominion-of-prudence-and-of-virtue-or/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/i-hate-to-see-prudence-clinging-to-the-green-suckers-of-youth-tis/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/often-a-certain-abdication-of-prudence-and-foresight-is-an-element-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-continue-to-develop-our-technology-without-wisdom-or-prudence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/chapter-vi-concerning-new-principalities-which-are-acquired-by-one-s/) [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 Idle quotes > [Nature, being a wise and provident lady, governs her parts very wisely, methodically, and orderly: Also, she is very industrious and hates to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/nature-being-a-wise-and-provident-lady-governs-her-parts-very-wisely/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [I'm homosexual. How and why are idle questions. It's a little like wanting to know why my eyes are green.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-genet/i-m-homosexual-how-and-why-are-idle-questions-it-s-a-little-like/) [Jean Genet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-genet/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/life-is-not-long-and-too-much-of-it-must-not-pass-in-idle/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think my parents recognised that I'd always wanted to be a writer, and so they didn't think that this was some idle, faddish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-think-my-parents-recognised-that-i-d-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Spring comes with flowers, autumn with the moon, summer with the breeze, winter with snow. When idle concerns don't fill your thoughts, that's your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wumen-huikai/spring-comes-with-flowers-autumn-with-the-moon-summer-with-the-breeze/) [Wumen Huikai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wumen-huikai/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [To be idle requires a strong sense of personal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/to-be-idle-requires-a-strong-sense-of-personal-identity/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [An idle life and a holy heart is a contradiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/an-idle-life-and-a-holy-heart-is-a-contradiction/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) [Browse all 727 Idle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...never in peaceful times stand idle..”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicolo Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Idle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/nicolo-machiavelli-49849_idle_never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle-68716_687164.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...never in peaceful times stand idle..” — Nicolo 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": "Nicolo Machiavelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolo-machiavelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...never in peaceful times stand idle..”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolo-machiavelli/never-in-peaceful-times-stand-idle/#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 } } ] } ```