“Wars start when you want them to, but they don’t end when you want them to.” —Niccolò Machiavelli
The LiveMint Quote of the Day is from Niccolò Machiavelli, who was arguably the most influential political thinker of the Renaissance period.
Even decades later, his words resonate just as the conflict between Israel, the US and Iran, which has also raised tensions in the Middle East, shows no signs of easing.
On Friday, three United States officials said the military is deploying thousands more sailors and marines to the Middle East. The development comes amid the ongoing conflict, which is currently in its third week.
What does Machiavelli’s quote mean?
Put simply, Machiavelli’s quote means that leaders can wage “war” whenever they want, but how it develops or ends is something beyond their control.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, February 28 – which reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other top leaders. Explosions were also reported in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, other key Middle Eastern centers – which are also home to US military bases.
The conflict also led to the closure of Dubai’s airports, causing massive disruption to air traffic, leaving thousands of passengers stranded around the world.
Machiavelli’s words continue to resonate in today’s geopolitical climate, serving as a reminder of the unpredictability and human costs of war—and the limits of power once events are set in motion.
Who was Niccolo Machiavelli?
Niccolò Machiavelli, born in 1469 in Florence, Italy, was an Italian Renaissance political philosopher and statesman, secretary of the Florentine Republic, whose most famous work, “The Prince (Il Principe)” earned him what many describe as a controversial reputation as an atheist and immoral cynic.
During his time in office, Machiavelli wrote several short political discourses and poems, including the Decennali, reflecting on Florentine history. However, it was during his exile, after losing office, that he produced the works for which he is best remembered.
In a famous letter dated December 10, 1513, Machiavelli described his daily routine – mornings spent walking in the woods, afternoons socializing at a local inn, and evenings devoted to reading and thinking, where he said: “I feed on the food that alone is mine and for which I was born.
In the same letter, he referred to composing a short work about princes as a mere “whim”. This introduction serves as the debut of what has become one of the world’s most famous political texts, ultimately combining “Machiavellianism” with the teachings of worldly success through scheming deception.
