“Men rise from one ambition to another, first they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others”
— Niccolo Machiavelli
Simplified Meaning:
People often have different goals at different stages of their lives. Initially, they focus on making sure they are safe and protected from any dangers or problems. Think of a student in school who works hard, studies a lot, and builds knowledge to pass exams and avoid failing. Once they feel secure and confident from their achievements, their goals shift. They might start to compete with others to be the top student in the class, trying to outperform their peers. This pattern is seen in many aspects of life, like in business where a company first tries to establish itself and be stable, and then looks to dominate the market and outperform competitors. The idea encourages people to be aware of their changing motivations and to understand that once basic needs are met, new and often more aggressive goals might emerge.
