The Life's A Game: To Win You Need To Understand The Rules.

• One where there's a centralizing ruler surrounded by advisors, servants, who act only by the grace and concession of their Lord,
• Another where there's a ruler surrounded by leaders, who don't out of submission but of tradition, virtue and power of th...

There's nothing more difficult, nor with doubtful success, nor dangerous than to implement changes that affect the customs and traditions of the people.

• The prince who takes power and tries to implement necessary changes will have as fierce enemies the beneficiaries of...

• The prince must be extremely careful to make himself feared in such a way that even if he isn't loved, he doesn't become hated by the people either.
• The best alliance is to don't be hated by the peopl...

• The choice of advisors is a task of extreme importance to a prince. How good thouse individuals are, if they're or not fit for office, depends entirely on the prince's wisdom.
• If they're competent and faithful, it can be said that the...

If two powerful friends of a prince clash, and they're also his rivals, whose strength is such that the victor may or not be feared by him. It's best for him to take a side and state his position clearly.

• Winner...

Luck's just like a river that in flood seasons destroys everything around it, but if you prepare canals and dams, you will be able to reduce it's momentum.

• Luck and chance only manifest themselves freely where there's no organization or any kind of resistance.
• ...

Nothing that happens is completely good or bad. If you pay a closer look to it you'll find an advantage even in the things you see as bad.

• Develop the habit to see what happens around you as events, circumstances, causes and consequences. Don't define things as...

• When the people feel oppressed by the mighty, they rise up against their rulers to replace them.
• The great sometimes can manege to change the ruler too. When not satisfied with their many riches and privileges, then seeking to further oppress the people, they employ force to change t...

Considering that individuals are often false and don't keep their promises to the prince, he's also not obliged to keep promises he made to them. Thus, a wise prince can't and shouldn't keep his promise when:

How do some individuals commit so many betrayals and cruelties still managing to stay in power?The answer to that lies in which way cruelty is used.

• To remain in power and maintain harmony in his kingdom, even a kind prince sometimes needs to use rigor and atc...

The reputation of generous can be a positive factor, but generosity can get you into huge trouble. If you want to be widely known as generous, you will have to spend a lot, and soon you'll run out of resources.

• ...

When a prince gains power by luck:

• He'll need little effort to reach the top because he flew there. Once there, he will find all kinds of difficulties without being prepared to face them.
• UNLESS these princes ...

In the beginning of his reign the prince needs to implement changes in order to achieve great things.

• To do so with unstable power and without ruin himself by his enemies, the prince need to struggle in great difficulties to conduct himself.
• He finds in his path all kinds of th...

• The prince must seek a reputation for piety not for cruelty, but yet he must be careful in employing such piety.
• If the reputation of tough and strict's necessary to keep the team united and prosperou...

• What makes a leader hated is to appropriate directly or indirectly of the assets of those he leads.
• When they feel that their property (their pocket), and their honor (their r...

• Is it better to be feared or loved? For Machiavelli, the best would be both.
• However, it's difficult for a person to combine the qualities to provoke these two feelings. If you have to choose between both, it's better be feared than loved.

• A ruler can't honestly please the great without offending the small, but the people can be satisfied without offending the powerful.
• The desire of the great's to oppress the people, and the people, in turn, just don't want to be oppressed.
• Th...

• It's possible to conquer power through dishonest, cruel and corrupt means, It's an aspect that can't be omitted.
• However there's no merit in betraying your neighbor, having no faith, fear of God or pi...

They who want to maintain themselves secure should adopt two habits

• The first's full-time observation. Observing thouse around you, their movements and deciphe their intentions. This way you'll be able to identify who's your enemy.
• The other is simulati...

It's important to keep in mind:

• A new leader's much more closely watched in his actions than a veteran.
• When newcomers demonstrate virtue and do great feats, they attract and involve much more than a traditional prince who has been in power for...

To implement changes on the customs of a group or team:

1. Tell them how such changes will benefit them, exaggeration on this point is welcome.
2. Present such changes

There're actually three types of intellect.

• The first's able to understand things on their own. EXELLENT
• The second's able to understand what others say, or teach to they. VERY GOOD
• The...

• The greater our understanding of the reality and the hidden rules of things, the less failures and frustrations we will have.
• The better we understand people, the more prepared we're to help them, manipulate or defend ourselves from them them.

KEY INSIGHT: The...

Therefore, it's prudent to say that:

• The prince must determine the hard and severe measures to be taken and execute it at once, to avoid using harshness and cruelty day after day.
• As for the benefits, they need to be administer...

The two main reasons that lead leaders to lose their power.

1. To become hostile to the people.
2. Don't know how to neutralize the great when the people supported .

• The ruler who doesn't ma...

1. Observe the characteristics of the moment and think deeply in how to make the most of them.
2. Before doing anything predict the results both positive and negative, in the short, medium and long term.
3. Prepare for possible storms...

• When the leader accomplish great works, they become admired by their people, they gives off the impression of being powerful, being able to do feats that no one else has ever done. As a hero he's admired for his deeds.
• They serve as an example of con...

• A prince must avoid being dependent, submissive, or in control of another prince especially if they're mightier then he. Except out of extreme necessity, to defeat a third enemy.
• Even if a mercenary ally (someone moved only by self-interest) is usefu...

He who desires power must master the art of competition.

• When a prince leaves competition behind and concernerns more with the luxuries of office he holds, he'll soon lose his glory and power.
• It hapens because, a person who ignores the competition sett...

To implement changes, the first step's to examine your circumstances.

• Be aware if to carry out your project you depend on the order of favors from others, or if you're independent and on your own can impose yourself.
• In the first case, when a prince de...