Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
He who builds on the people, builds on the mud
Interpretation
Building on the support of people is unreliable and unstable.
This quote by Machiavelli suggests that relying solely on the goodwill or opinions of others to build one's foundation, whether in leadership or personal endeavors, is precarious. It implies that external approval can be as unstable as building on mud, which can shift and falter, emphasizing the importance of a more solid, intrinsic foundation for success.
In practice
In a leadership seminar, this quote could highlight the importance of having a solid plan rather than relying on fluctuating public opinion.
Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.
For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.
Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin than his preservation.
Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.
And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and so, as I said above, if a prince wishes to maintain the state, he is often obliged not to be good; because whenever that group which you believe you need to support you is corrupted, whether it be the common people, the soldiers, or the nobles, it is to your advantage to follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them; and then good actions are your enemy.
The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.
We chart delusions through collective agreement.
In Buddhist teaching, ignorance is considered the fundamental cause of violence - ignorance... about the separation of self and other... about the consequences of our actions.
A man builds a house in England with the expectation of living in it and leaving it to his children; we shed our houses in America as easily as a snail does his shell.
I have often seen people uncivil by too much civility, and tiresome in their courtesy.
When we speak of our virtues we are competitors, when we confess our sins we become brothers.
The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.