And there is nothing wastes so rapidly as liberality, for even whilst … — The Prince

The Prince — Niccolò Machiavelli

And there is nothing wastes so rapidly as liberality, for even whilst you exercise it you lose the power to do so, and so become either poor or despised, or else, in avoiding poverty, rapacious and hated. And a prince should guard himself, above all things, against being despised and hated; and liberality leads you to both. Therefore it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred, than to be compelled through seeking a reputation for liberality to incur a name for rapacity which begets reproach with hatred.

Place: CHAPTER XVI -- CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS · ¶204
License: Public domain · Source
The text is given as in the edition, unedited.

← BackNext →Check your own quote