When Cruelty Works—And the Precise Conditions Under Which It Destroys You — The Prince

The Knife in the Piazza

Injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less. Benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer. Properly used injuries, if of evil one may speak well, are applied at one blow, necessary to security, and not persisted in afterward.

“For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.”

Ruin by Living as You Ought

Agathocles rose from potter's son to king of Syracuse by slaughter and broken faith. Machiavelli will not call it talent. Such methods may gain empire, but not glory. Injuries should be done at one blow, then stopped. Persisted in, they are not security. They are a habit that turns the subjects against you.

“Yet it cannot be called talent to slay fellow-citizens, to deceive friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; such methods may gain empire, but not glory.”

Dikes Before the Flood

Injuries ought to be done all at one time so they offend less. Benefits little by little so the flavour lasts. Properly used injuries are applied at one blow, necessary to security, and not persisted in afterward unless they can be turned to the advantage of the subjects. Oliverotto's night of murder worked until Borgia overreached him at Sinigalia.

“Those may be called properly used, if of evil it is possible to speak well, that are applied at one blow and are necessary to one's security, and that are not persisted in afterwards.”