Quote by Niccolò Machiavelli: “Cruelties are well used when they are committed all at once, out of necessity.”

A ruler should inflict necessary cruelties swiftly and decisively at the outset of their reign. This ensures a period of stability afterwards, preventing prolonged unrest and allowing subjects to forget the initial harshness, making governance more efficient.

Machiavelli studied historical examples of rulers who seized power through violence during the turbulent Italian Renaissance. He analyzed how some maintained their rule more effectively than others, often by employing decisive, albeit brutal, initial actions.

Italian Renaissance diplomat, philosopher and writer, best known for The Prince, written in 1513. He has often been called the father of modern political philosophy and political science.