Machiavelli
The Prince
24
Why
the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States The
before-mentioned things, if prudently observed, make a new prince seem
ancient, and render him at once more secure and firmer in the state than
if he had been established there of old. For a new prince is much more
observed in his actions than a hereditary one, and when these are
recognized as virtuous, he wins over men more and they are more bound to
him than if he were of the ancient blood. For men are much more taken by
present than by past things, and when they find themselves well off in the
present, they enjoy it and seek nothing more; on the contrary, they will
do all they can to defend him, so long as the prince is not in other
things deficient. And thus he will have the double glory of having founded
a new realm and adorned it and fortified it with good laws, good arms,
good friends and good examples; as he will have double shame who is born a
prince and through want of prudence has lost his throne. And
if one considers those rulers who have lost their position in Italy in our
days, such as the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan and others, one will
find in them first a common defect as to their arms, for the reasons
discussed at length, then we observe that some of them either had the
people hostile to them, or that if the people were friendly they were not
able to make sure of the nobility, for without these defects, states are
not lost that have enough strength to be able to keep an army in the
field. Philip of Macedon, not the father of Alexander the Great, but the
one who was conquered by Titus Quintius, did not possess a great state
compared to the greatness of Rome and Greece which assailed him, but being
a military man and one who knew how to ingratiate himself with the people
and make sure of the great, he was able to sustain the war against them
for many years; and if at length he lost his power over some cities, he
was still able to keep his kingdom. Therefore,
those of our princes who had held their possessions for many years must
not accuse fortune for having lost them, but rather their own remissness;
for having never in quiet times considered that things might change (as it
is a common fault of men not to reckon on storms in fair weather) when
adverse times came, they only thought of fleeing, instead of defending
themselves. and hoped that the people, enraged by the insolence of the
conquerors, would recall them. This measure, when others w wanting, is
good; but it is very bad to have neglected the other remedies for that
one, for nobody would desire to fall because he believed that he would
then find some one to pick him up. This may or may not take place, and if
it does, it does not afford you security, as you have not helped yourself
but been helped like a coward. Only those defenses are good, certain and
durable, which depend on yourself alone and your own ability.
