Something that seems like a win for everybody involved that doesn't lose everything, though they're often not actually getting/keeping everything, and are actually slowly losing little by little over a long period of time.
People thought it was a Machiavellian victory when a few houses in their neighborhood were burned down or gentrified, then a few more houses and neighbors were lost, and lost everything in the process, then a few more, until finally there was nothing left of what was once their neighborhood. The machine, and the people that were part of the machine took it from them, and they let it slip away from them without ever wak8ng up to fight for it.
by The Original Agahnim May 28, 2021
Similar to the sexual position, 'the wheel-barrow' (i.e on one's back in a submissive role with the legs pulled over the partner's shoulders) the bottoming person would be either debating, complaining, glaring (or all at the same time) during the entire process.
I was trying to make him comfortable for his first time, but the agitated little shit kept patronizing me and glaring at me. It was probably my fault for provoking him, but heck it was a total Machiavellian wheel-barrow moment.
by Le Emme February 2, 2011
by followerofsean April 11, 2022
Something that seems to be a gift on the surface, though you're not actually getting anything, and are at risk of losing everything and being put out on the street (if you never fight).
Holding your breath won't do much good with a slow knife going further and further in between your ribs. The extensions of restrictions are just a Machiavellian treat for business owners to make them think they're getting something good by staying open instead of being shut down. Really, the governor is the one getting the treat.
by Solid Mantis January 8, 2021
A rare specimen of nature who only comes out in the darkest of times, commonly to save some-or even the world...
This thing could also come under the name will (Will Thompson) as he only comes out at night, to be the superhero to my villain.
People ADORE him!
Bellow Will Eccleston btw
This thing could also come under the name will (Will Thompson) as he only comes out at night, to be the superhero to my villain.
People ADORE him!
Bellow Will Eccleston btw
its will thompson! omg! machiavellian marsupial
by Henri The Bloody God May 5, 2022
Give me a break Jordan. You’re not going on a personal tangent, huh? Cuz Jonathan Haidt told you you weren’t. It sounds like you are. It sounds like you are acting out your personal vendettas against someone anonymous instead of “acting out” you’re “belief” in God. How are you not doing the same thing as the woke types right now?
Hym “See.... Didn’t you say part of the problem with people not standing up to the whole mob was that people didn’t agree but they were keeping quiet for fear of people coming after them? But with your new stance on anonymity it seems to be the case that that’s what you want. You want people to be subject to the same sort of fear except in the other direction. You’re not better than the trans-activists. ‘BE NICE TO ME OR ELSE I’LL WEILD THE SYSTEM AGAINST YOU!’ Just like the retard and those whores at the group home. You’re all the fucking same. And I’m the coward? How? You know who I am. Actually. Psychopathic Narcissistic Machiavellian Demons? So melodramatic. You’re a fucking wacko. Let’s see it. Let’s see how far you’re willing to go. Conflict avoidant bitch.”
by Hym Iam November 14, 2022
A win for everybody that was never really a win for anybody, since at least one person, if not everybody, lost something to the machine/system, or someone that was part of the machine/system. Disney was/is a master of Machiavellian principles, since people feel like they gain something by waiting in a line at Disneyland/Disney World for 45 minutes of their time instead of an hour of their time. Really it's Disney that gains from this, since people think Disney has a real concern for their families, and not for the Disney reputation and lost dollar signs that would come with any damage to the Disney reputation.
It would be a Machiavellian Victory if one of the two buildings was demolished, or if 4 or 5 of your 10 neighbors homes burned to the ground and yours didn't, you feel like you kept or even gained something by not losing everything, but half of your neighborhood is lost forever and half your neighbors lost everything. So, a Machiavellian victory is when people feel like everybody won because they didn't lose everything, when really just one person or entity actually gained/benefitted from what actually hzppened. Really most wars have casualties, so they are Machiavellian victories if your country doesn't lose a war, since somebody somewhere still lost a family member. Life is a matter of what you lose and not what you win or gain.
by The Original Agahnim May 28, 2021