Machiavelli
The Prince
10 How
the Strength of All States Should Be Measured
In
examining the character of these principalities it is necessary to
consider another point, namely, whether the prince has such position as to
be able in case of need to maintain himself alone, or whether he has
always need of the protection of others. The better to explain this I
would say, that I consider those capable of maintaining themselves alone
who can, through abundance of men or money, put together a sufficient
army, and hold the field against any one who assails them; and I consider
to have need of others, those who cannot take the field against their
enemies, but are obliged to take refuge within their walls and stand on
the defensive. We have already discussed the former case and will speak of
it in future as occasion arises. In the second case there is nothing to be
said except to encourage such a prince to provision and fortify his own
town, and not to trouble about the surrounding country. And whoever has
strongly fortified his town and, as regards the government of his
subjects, has proceeded as we have already described and will further
relate, will be attacked with great reluctance, for men are always averse
to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties, and it can never appear
easy to attack one who has his town stoutly defended and is not hated by
the people.
The
cities of Germany are absolutely free, have little surrounding country,
and obey the emperor when they choose, and they do not fear him or any
other potentate that they have about them. They are fortified in such a
manner that every one thinks that to reduce them would be tedious and
difficult, for they all have the necessary moats and bastions, sufficient
artillery, and always keep food, drink, and fuel for one year in the
public storehouses. Beyond which, to keep the lower classes satisfied, and
without loss to the commonwealth, they have always enough means to give
them work for one year in these employments which form the nerve and life
of the town, and in the industries by which the lower classes live.
Military exercises are still held in high reputation, and many regulations
are in force for maintaining them.
A
prince, therefore, who possesses a strong city and does not make himself
hated, cannot be assaulted; and if he were to be so, the assailant would
be obliged to retire shamefully; for so many things change, that it is
almost impossible for any one to maintain a siege for a year with his
armies idle. And to those who urge that the people, having their
possessions outside and seeing them burnt, will not have patience, and the
long siege and self-interest will make them forget their prince, I reply
that a powerful and courageous prince will always overcome those
difficulties by now raising the hopes of his subjects that the evils will
not last long, now impressing them with fear of the enemy’s cruelty, now
by dextrously assuring himself of those who appear too bold. Besides
which, the enemy would naturally burn and ravage the country on first
arriving and at the time when men’s minds are still hot and eager to
defend themselves, and therefore the prince has still less to fear, for
after some time, when people have cooled down, the damage is done, the
evil has been suffered, and there is no remedy, so that they are the more
ready to unite with their prince, as it appears that he is under an
obligation to them, their houses having been burnt and their possessions
ruined in his defense.
It
is the nature of men to be as much bound by the benefits that they confer
as by those they receive. From which it follows that, everything
considered, a prudent prince will not find it difficult to uphold the
courage of his subjects both at the commencement and during a state of
siege, if he possesses provisions and means to defend himself.