because¡¡of¡¡their¡¡being¡¡too¡¡many£»¡¡whilst¡¡from¡¡the¡¡nobles¡¡he¡¡can¡¡secure
himself£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡few¡¡in¡¡number¡£¡¡The¡¡worst¡¡that¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡may¡¡expect
from¡¡a¡¡hostile¡¡people¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡abandoned¡¡by¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡hostile
nobles¡¡he¡¡has¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡abandonment£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡rise
against¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡they£»¡¡being¡¡in¡¡these¡¡affairs¡¡more¡¡far¡seeing¡¡and
astute£»¡¡always¡¡e¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡save¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡obtain
favours¡¡from¡¡him¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡prevail¡£¡¡Further£»¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡is
pelled¡¡to¡¡live¡¡always¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡people£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡can¡¡do¡¡well
without¡¡the¡¡same¡¡nobles£»¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡make¡¡and¡¡unmake¡¡them¡¡daily£»¡¡and
to¡¡give¡¡or¡¡take¡¡away¡¡authority¡¡when¡¡it¡¡pleases¡¡him¡£
Therefore£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡this¡¡point¡¡clearer£»¡¡I¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡nobles¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be
looked¡¡at¡¡mainly¡¡in¡¡two¡¡ways£º¡¡that¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡they¡¡either¡¡shape¡¡their
course¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡way¡¡as¡¡binds¡¡them¡¡entirely¡¡to¡¡your¡¡fortune£»¡¡or¡¡they¡¡do
not¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡so¡¡bind¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡not¡¡rapacious£»¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be
honoured¡¡and¡¡loved£»¡¡those¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡¡bind¡¡themselves¡¡may¡¡be¡¡dealt¡¡with
in¡¡two¡¡ways£»¡¡they¡¡may¡¡fail¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this¡¡through¡¡pusillanimity¡¡and¡¡a
natural¡¡want¡¡of¡¡courage£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡case¡¡you¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡make¡¡use¡¡of¡¡them£»
especially¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡of¡¡good¡¡counsel£»¡¡and¡¡thus£»¡¡whilst¡¡in
prosperity¡¡you¡¡honour¡¡yourself£»¡¡in¡¡adversity¡¡you¡¡have¡¡not¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡them¡£
But¡¡when¡¡for¡¡their¡¡own¡¡ambitious¡¡ends¡¡they¡¡shun¡¡binding¡¡themselves£»¡¡it
is¡¡a¡¡token¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡giving¡¡more¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡themselves¡¡than¡¡to¡¡you£»
and¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡against¡¡such£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡them¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they
were¡¡open¡¡enemies£»¡¡because¡¡in¡¡adversity¡¡they¡¡always¡¡help¡¡to¡¡ruin¡¡him¡£
Therefore£»¡¡one¡¡who¡¡bees¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡through¡¡the¡¡favour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people
ought¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡friendly£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡he¡¡can¡¡easily¡¡do¡¡seeing¡¡they¡¡only
ask¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡oppressed¡¡by¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡one¡¡who£»¡¡in¡¡opposition¡¡to¡¡the
people£»¡¡bees¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡by¡¡the¡¡favour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nobles£»¡¡ought£»¡¡above
everything£»¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡win¡¡the¡¡people¡¡over¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡he¡¡may
easily¡¡do¡¡if¡¡he¡¡takes¡¡them¡¡under¡¡his¡¡protection¡£¡¡Because¡¡men£»¡¡when¡¡they
receive¡¡good¡¡from¡¡him¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡were¡¡expecting¡¡evil£»¡¡are¡¡bound¡¡more
closely¡¡to¡¡their¡¡benefactor£»¡¡thus¡¡the¡¡people¡¡quickly¡¡bee¡¡more¡¡devoted
to¡¡him¡¡than¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡the¡¡principality¡¡by¡¡their¡¡favours£»
and¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡can¡¡win¡¡their¡¡affections¡¡in¡¡many¡¡ways£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡these¡¡vary
according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡one¡¡cannot¡¡give¡¡fixed¡¡rules£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡omit
them£»¡¡but£»¡¡I¡¡repeat£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡people
friendly£»¡¡otherwise¡¡he¡¡has¡¡no¡¡security¡¡in¡¡adversity¡£
Nabis£»¡¡Prince¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spartans£»¡¡sustained¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡of¡¡all¡¡Greece£»¡¡and
of¡¡a¡¡victorious¡¡Roman¡¡army£»¡¡and¡¡against¡¡them¡¡he¡¡defended¡¡his¡¡country¡¡and
his¡¡government£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡overing¡¡of¡¡this¡¡peril¡¡it¡¡was¡¡only
necessary¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡make¡¡himself¡¡secure¡¡against¡¡a¡¡few£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡would
not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡sufficient¡¡if¡¡the¡¡people¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hostile¡£¡¡And¡¡do¡¡not¡¡let
any¡¡one¡¡impugn¡¡this¡¡statement¡¡with¡¡the¡¡trite¡¡proverb¡¡that¡¡'He¡¡who¡¡builds
on¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡builds¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mud£»'¡¡for¡¡this¡¡is¡¡true¡¡when¡¡a¡¡private
citizen¡¡makes¡¡a¡¡foundation¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡persuades¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people
will¡¡free¡¡him¡¡when¡¡he¡¡is¡¡oppressed¡¡by¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡or¡¡by¡¡the¡¡magistrates£»
wherein¡¡he¡¡would¡¡find¡¡himself¡¡very¡¡often¡¡deceived£»¡¡as¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡the
Gracchi¡¡in¡¡Rome¡¡and¡¡to¡¡Messer¡¡Giorgio¡¡Scali¡¡in¡¡Florence¡£¡¡But¡¡granted¡¡a
prince¡¡who¡¡has¡¡established¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡above£»¡¡who¡¡can¡¡mand£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡a
man¡¡of¡¡courage£»¡¡undismayed¡¡in¡¡adversity£»¡¡who¡¡does¡¡not¡¡fail¡¡in¡¡other
qualifications£»¡¡and¡¡who£»¡¡by¡¡his¡¡resolution¡¡and¡¡energy£»¡¡keeps¡¡the¡¡whole
people¡¡encouraged¡¡¡¡such¡¡a¡¡one¡¡will¡¡never¡¡find¡¡himself¡¡deceived¡¡in
them£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡shown¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡laid¡¡his¡¡foundations¡¡well¡£
These¡¡principalities¡¡are¡¡liable¡¡to¡¡danger¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡passing¡¡from¡¡the
civil¡¡to¡¡the¡¡absolute¡¡order¡¡of¡¡government£»¡¡for¡¡such¡¡princes¡¡either¡¡rule
personally¡¡or¡¡through¡¡magistrates¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡case¡¡their¡¡government
is¡¡weaker¡¡and¡¡more¡¡insecure£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡rests¡¡entirely¡¡on¡¡the¡¡goodwill
of¡¡those¡¡citizens¡¡who¡¡are¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡the¡¡magistracy£»¡¡and¡¡who£»¡¡especially
in¡¡troubled¡¡times£»¡¡can¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡government¡¡with¡¡great¡¡ease£»¡¡either¡¡by
intrigue¡¡or¡¡open¡¡defiance£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡has¡¡not¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡amid
tumults¡¡to¡¡exercise¡¡absolute¡¡authority£»¡¡because¡¡the¡¡citizens¡¡and
subjects£»¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡orders¡¡from¡¡magistrates£»¡¡are¡¡not¡¡of¡¡a
mind¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡him¡¡amid¡¡these¡¡confusions£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡will¡¡always¡¡be¡¡in
doubtful¡¡times¡¡a¡¡scarcity¡¡of¡¡men¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡can¡¡trust¡£¡¡For¡¡such¡¡a¡¡prince
cannot¡¡rely¡¡upon¡¡what¡¡he¡¡observes¡¡in¡¡quiet¡¡times£»¡¡when¡¡citizens¡¡had¡¡need
of¡¡the¡¡state£»¡¡because¡¡then¡¡every¡¡one¡¡agrees¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡they¡¡all¡¡promise£»
and¡¡when¡¡death¡¡is¡¡far¡¡distant¡¡they¡¡all¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡die¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡in
troubled¡¡times£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡state¡¡has¡¡need¡¡of¡¡its¡¡citizens£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡finds
but¡¡few¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡more¡¡is¡¡this¡¡experiment¡¡dangerous£»¡¡inasmuch¡¡as
it¡¡can¡¡only¡¡be¡¡tried¡¡once¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡prince¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡adopt¡¡such¡¡a
course¡¡that¡¡his¡¡citizens¡¡will¡¡always¡¡in¡¡every¡¡sort¡¡and¡¡kind¡¡of
circumstance¡¡have¡¡need¡¡of¡¡the¡¡state¡¡and¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡will¡¡always
find¡¡them¡¡faithful¡£
CHAPTER¡¡X
CONCERNING¡¡THE¡¡WAY¡¡IN¡¡WHICH¡¡THE¡¡STRENGTH¡¡OF¡¡ALL¡¡PRINCIPALITIES¡¡OUGHT¡¡TO
BE¡¡MEASURED
IT¡¡IS¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡another¡¡point¡¡in¡¡examining¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of
these¡¡principalities£º¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡whether¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡has¡¡such¡¡power¡¡that£»¡¡in
case¡¡of¡¡need£»¡¡he¡¡can¡¡support¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡resources£»¡¡or¡¡whether
he¡¡has¡¡always¡¡need¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡others¡£¡¡And¡¡to¡¡make¡¡this¡¡quite
clear¡¡I¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡those¡¡are¡¡able¡¡to¡¡support¡¡themselves¡¡by
their¡¡own¡¡resources¡¡who¡¡can£»¡¡either¡¡by¡¡abundance¡¡of¡¡men¡¡or¡¡money£»¡¡raise
a¡¡sufficient¡¡army¡¡to¡¡join¡¡battle¡¡against¡¡any¡¡one¡¡who¡¡es¡¡to¡¡attack
them£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡those¡¡always¡¡to¡¡have¡¡need¡¡of¡¡others¡¡who¡¡cannot¡¡show
themselves¡¡against¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡field£»¡¡but¡¡are¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡defend
themselves¡¡by¡¡sheltering¡¡behind¡¡walls¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡case¡¡has¡¡been
discussed£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡will¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡it¡¡again¡¡should¡¡it¡¡recur¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡second
case¡¡one¡¡can¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡except¡¡to¡¡encourage¡¡such¡¡princes¡¡to¡¡provision
and¡¡fortify¡¡their¡¡towns£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡on¡¡any¡¡account¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡the¡¡country¡£
And¡¡whoever¡¡shall¡¡fortify¡¡his¡¡town¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡managed¡¡the
other¡¡concerns¡¡of¡¡his¡¡subjects¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡stated¡¡above£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡be¡¡often
repeated£»¡¡will¡¡never¡¡be¡¡attacked¡¡without¡¡great¡¡caution£»¡¡for¡¡men¡¡are
always¡¡adverse¡¡to¡¡enterprises¡¡where¡¡difficulties¡¡can¡¡be¡¡seen£»¡¡and¡¡it
will¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡one¡¡who¡¡has¡¡his¡¡town¡¡well
fortified£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡not¡¡hated¡¡by¡¡his¡¡people¡£
The¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡Germany¡¡are¡¡absolutely¡¡free£»¡¡they¡¡own¡¡but¡¡little¡¡country
around¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡yield¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡the¡¡emperor¡¡when¡¡it¡¡suits¡¡them£»
nor¡¡do¡¡they¡¡fear¡¡this¡¡or¡¡any¡¡other¡¡power¡¡they¡¡may¡¡have¡¡near¡¡them£»
because¡¡they¡¡are¡¡fortified¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡way¡¡that¡¡every¡¡one¡¡thinks¡¡the
taking¡¡of¡¡them¡¡by¡¡assault¡¡would¡¡be¡¡tedious¡¡and¡¡difficult£»¡¡seeing¡¡they
have¡¡proper¡¡ditches¡¡and¡¡walls£»¡¡they¡¡have¡¡sufficient¡¡artillery£»¡¡and¡¡they
always¡¡keep¡¡in¡¡public¡¡depots¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡one¡¡year's¡¡eating£»¡¡drinking£»¡¡and
firing¡£¡¡And¡¡beyond¡¡this£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡people¡¡quiet¡¡and¡¡without¡¡loss¡¡to
the¡¡state£»¡¡they¡¡always¡¡have¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡giving¡¡work¡¡to¡¡the¡¡munity¡¡in
those¡¡labours¡¡that¡¡are¡¡the¡¡life¡¡and¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the
pursuit¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡people¡¡are¡¡supported£»¡¡they¡¡also¡¡hold¡¡military
exercises¡¡in¡¡repute£»¡¡and¡¡moreover¡¡have¡¡many¡¡ordinances¡¡to¡¡uphold¡¡them¡£
Therefore£»¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡who¡¡has¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡not¡¡made¡¡himself
odious£»¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡attacked£»¡¡or¡¡if¡¡any¡¡one¡¡should¡¡attack¡¡he¡¡will¡¡only
be¡¡driven¡¡off¡¡with¡¡disgrace£»¡¡again£»¡¡because¡¡that¡¡affairs¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world
are¡¡so¡¡changeable£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡an¡¡army¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡year
in¡¡the¡¡field¡¡without¡¡being¡¡interfered¡¡with¡£¡¡And¡¡whoever¡¡should¡¡reply£º¡¡If
the¡¡people¡¡have¡¡property¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡it¡¡burnt£»¡¡they¡¡will
not¡¡remain¡¡patient£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡long¡¡siege¡¡and¡¡self¡interest¡¡will¡¡make¡¡them
forget¡¡their¡¡prince£»¡¡to¡¡this¡¡I¡¡answer¡¡that¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡and¡¡courageous
prince¡¡will¡¡overe¡¡all¡¡such¡¡difficulties¡¡by¡¡giving¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡hope¡¡to
his¡¡subjects¡¡that¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡for¡¡long£»¡¡at¡¡another¡¡time¡¡fear¡¡of
the¡¡cruelty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enemy£»¡¡then¡¡preserving¡¡himself¡¡adroitly¡¡from¡¡those
subjects¡¡who¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡too¡¡bold¡£
Further£»¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡would¡¡naturally¡¡on¡¡his¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡once¡¡burn¡¡and¡¡ruin
the¡¡country¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡spirits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡are¡¡still¡¡hot¡¡and
ready¡¡for¡¡the¡¡defence£»¡¡and£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡less¡¡ought¡¡the¡¡prince
to¡¡hesitate£»¡¡because¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡when¡¡spirits¡¡have¡¡cooled£»¡¡the¡¡damage
is¡¡already¡¡done£»¡¡the¡¡ills¡¡are¡¡incurred£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡any
remedy£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡they¡¡are¡¡so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡more¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡unite¡¡with
their¡¡prince£»¡¡he¡¡appearing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡under¡¡obligations¡¡to¡¡them¡¡now¡¡that
their¡¡houses¡¡have¡¡been¡¡burnt¡¡and¡¡their¡¡possessions¡¡ruined¡¡in¡¡his
defence¡£¡¡For¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡men¡¡to¡¡be¡¡bound¡¡by¡¡the¡¡benefits¡¡they
confer¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡by¡¡those¡¡they¡¡receive¡£¡¡Therefore£»¡¡if¡¡everything¡¡is
well¡¡considered£»¡¡it¡¡wilt¡¡not¡¡be¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡prince¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the
minds¡¡of¡¡his¡¡citizens¡¡steadfast¡¡from¡¡first¡¡to¡¡last£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not
fail¡¡to¡¡support¡¡and¡¡defend¡¡them¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XI
CONCERNING¡¡ECCLESIASTICAL¡¡PRINCIPALITIES
IT¡¡ONLY¡¡remains¡¡now¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡ecclesiastical¡¡principalities£»¡¡touching
which¡¡all¡¡difficulties¡¡are¡¡prior¡¡to¡¡getting¡¡possession£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡are
acquired¡¡either¡¡by¡¡capacity¡¡or¡¡good¡¡fortune£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡can¡¡be¡¡held
without¡¡either£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡are¡¡sustained¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ordinances¡¡of¡¡religion£»
which¡¡are¡¡so¡¡all¡powerful£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡character¡¡that¡¡the
principalities¡¡may¡¡be¡¡held¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡their¡¡princes¡¡behave¡¡and¡¡live¡£
These¡¡princes¡¡alone¡¡have¡¡states¡¡and¡¡do¡¡not¡¡defend¡¡them£»¡¡they¡¡have
subjects¡¡and¡¡do¡¡not¡¡rule¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡states£»¡¡although¡¡unguarded£»¡¡are
not¡¡taken¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡subjects£»¡¡although¡¡not¡¡ruled£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡care£»
and¡¡they¡¡have¡¡neither¡¡the¡¡desire¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡alienate¡¡themselves¡£
Such¡¡principalities¡¡only¡¡are¡¡secure¡¡and¡¡happy¡£¡¡But¡¡being¡¡upheld¡¡by
powers£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡human¡¡mind¡¡cannot¡¡reach£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡speak¡¡no¡¡more¡¡of
them£»¡¡because£»¡¡being¡¡exalted¡¡and¡¡maintained¡¡by¡¡God£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡act
of¡¡a¡¡presumptuous¡¡and¡¡ras
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