THE PRINCE
by Nicolo Machiavelli
Translated by W. K. Marriott
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CHAPTER XXIV
The Princes Of Italy Have Lost
Their States
THE previous suggestions, carefully
observed, will enable a new prince to appear well established, and
render him at once more secure and fixed in the state than if he had
been long seated there. For the actions of a new prince are more
narrowly observed than those of an hereditary one, and when they are
seen to be able they gain more men and bind far tighter than ancient
blood; because men are attracted more by the present than by the
past, and when they find the present good they enjoy it and seek no
further; they will also make the utmost defence for a prince if he
fails them not in other things. Thus it will be a double glory to
him to have established a new principality, and adorned and
strengthened it with good laws, good arms, good allies, and with a
good example; so will it be a double disgrace to him who, born a
prince, shall lose his state by want of wisdom. (Note
1)
And if those seigniors are
considered who have lost their states in Italy in our times, such as
the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan, and others, there will be
found in them, firstly, one common defect in regard to arms from the
causes which have been discussed at length; in the next place, some
one of them will be seen, either to have had the people hostile, or
if he has had the people friendly, he has not known how to secure
the nobles. In the absence of these defects states that have power
enough to keep an army in the field cannot be lost. (Note
2)
Philip of Macedon, not the father of
Alexander the Great, but he who was conquered by Titus Quintius, had
not much territory compared to the greatness of the Romans and of
Greece who attacked him, yet being a warlike man who knew how to
attract the people and secure the nobles, he sustained the war
against his enemies for many years, and if in the end he lost the
dominion of some cities, nevertheless he retained the kingdom.
Therefore, do not let our princes
accuse fortune for the loss of their principalities after so many
years' possession, but rather their own sloth, because in quiet
times they never thought there could be a change (it is a common
defect in man not to make any provision in the calm against the
tempest), and when afterwards the bad times came they thought of
flight and not of defending themselves, and they hoped that the
people, disgusted with the insolence of the conquerors, would recall
them. This course, when others fail, may be good, but it is very bad
to have neglected all other expedients for that, since you would
never wish to fall because you trusted to be able to find someone
later on to restore you. This again either does not happen, or, if
it does, it will not be for your security, because that deliverance
is of no avail which does not depend upon yourself; those only are
reliable, certain, and durable that depend on yourself and your
valour. (Note 3)
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