[Publius]

The quote is wrong. It was Machiavelli who said that, not Emerson, and Niccolo Machiavelli may have borrowed it from someone from ancient Rome.

So why did Trump misquote? I'm sure he's read Machiavelli, so I don't see it as a mistake. It was a deliberate misquote. But why?

Is this something to which we should be paying attention?

[kallisti]

He was quoting Baker.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks for the details. Yes, it is interesting that the quote is Machiavelli and not Emerson. DIdn’t sound like Emerson (not that I’ve read him).

[numberonepal]

Is this something to which we should be paying attention?

Trump was quoting Peter Baker who was quoting Emerson.