“The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.”
- May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527
- Born in the Republic of Florence (Italy)
- Political thinker and diplomat
- Wrote The Prince, built the foundations of modern political science, and advocated realist political thought
Quote
“The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.”
Explanation
This quote comes from Niccolò Machiavelli, an Italian Renaissance political philosopher best known for his work The Prince, which offers advice to rulers on maintaining power and navigating the complexities of politics. Here, Machiavelli emphasizes the interconnectedness of laws and military strength in forming a stable state. According to him, good laws cannot exist without the support of strong arms, meaning military force, and where the military is strong, the laws will naturally follow.
Machiavelli’s thoughts were shaped by the turbulent political climate of Renaissance Italy, where city-states were often at war with each other. He believed that a ruler must be prepared to defend their state through military means if they wished to establish a just and effective government. The idea of “good arms” refers not only to military prowess but also to the ability of a state to defend itself and impose its will, while “good laws” are a reflection of a stable, just government that can maintain order and enforce peace.
In modern times, this quote is often interpreted as a cautionary statement about the importance of balancing military power and rule of law in ensuring political stability. For example, in post-conflict nations, strong institutions and fair legal systems are essential to rebuilding society, but without security, these institutions cannot function effectively. A modern example might be the role of military intervention in stabilizing regions affected by civil war, such as in Somalia or Syria, where external forces or strong local militias often play a key role in re-establishing order before any meaningful governance can take root.
