Part 2/9:
Machiavelli’s observations from Renaissance Florence highlight a stark reality: power thrives in silence. During his time, silence was a necessary tool for survival, and boasting made individuals targets for envy and attack. The very act of displaying one’s strength can become a liability. The loud peacock, despite its dazzling plumage, is also the first to be hunted. This lesson resonates in modern contexts, where people publicly declare goals and celebrate moments of success before they materialize—turning potential strength into a weakness.