Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c117IR // #c117Synthesis

And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.

— In our words · Source: The Prince (Niccolò Machiavelli)

[Use when]

When a reform or reorg stalls and you need the mechanism, not the morale speech.

[Why it matters]

The original statement of why reform is hard: the old order’s beneficiaries fight, the new order’s beneficiaries don’t believe yet.

More from The Prince

#c116The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, and for this they will be praised not blamed;…When someone moralizes ambition itself instead of how it is pursued. #c118Those 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…When debating whether to rip the bandage off. #c119But, it being my intention to write a thing which shall be useful to him who apprehends it, it appears to me more appropriate to follow up…When a plan is built on how people should behave.