The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

These are my notes on The Prince. I have tried to adapt the principles outlined into modern day versions. If you want to gain a historical perspective into The Prince, go read the book.

• Work on projects that act as your anchors of power.
• No half-measures, finish what you started whether it be competitions, bad habits, toxic relationships. Eliminate them thoroughly.
• Don't invest all your resources maintaining something unprofitable. Streamline and focus on what brings the most value.
• Build alliances with underdogs to avoid strong competitors from monopolizing.
• When entering a new space, be the disruptor.
• A centralized system might be though to get into, but once you get in you have security. A decentralized system is easier to join, but you will deal with constant power shifts.
• If you need to make thought decisions do them swiftly and all at once.
• Dish out praise and rewards gradually to keep morale high.
• Give your team the tools they need to succeed.
• Take on big challenges and opponents. When you succeed, your reputation will rise higher.
• Protect your interests. But don't isolate yourself.
• Be open to advice and seek it. But make the final decision. You are in control of yourself.
• Don't stay neutral in crucial situations. Take a stand and make decisions.
• Fortune is indeed vital, but it is only one half of the coin. With effort and preparation fortune can be dominated.

[W]ar is not to be avoided, but is only to be put off to the advantage of others[.]

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

A wise men ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men[.]

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

[H]e who has relied least on fortune is established the strongest.

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

[T]he incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

[T]he scanty wisdom of man, on entering into an affair which looks well at first, cannot discern the poison that is hidden in it[.]

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

[I]f everything is considered carefully it will be found that something which looks like virtue if followed, would be his ruin; whilst something else, which looks like vice, yet followed brings him security and prosperity.

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

[I]t comes to pass that he exercises liberality towards all from whom he does not take. [...] [A]nd meanness towards those to whom he does not give[.]

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince