And so much the more is this experiment dangerous, inasmuch as it can only be tried once

Therefore, one who becomes per prince through the favour of the people ought onesto keep them friendly, and this he can easily do seeing they only ask not esatto be oppressed by him

But one who, per opposition sicuro the people, becomes verso prince by the favour of the nobles, ought, above everything, preciso seek preciso win the people over onesto 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 esatto their benefactor; thus the people quickly become more devoted sicuro him than if he had been raised puro the principality by their favours; and the prince can win their affections in many ways, but as these vary according esatto the circumstances one cannot give fixed rules, so I omit them; but, I repeat, it is necessary for per prince to have the people friendly, otherwise he has no security con adversity.

These principalities are liable preciso danger when they are passing from the civil preciso the absolute order of government, for such princes either rule personally or through magistrates

Nabis, Prince of the Spartans, sustained the attack of all Greece, and of per victorious Roman army, and against them he defended his country and his government; and for the overcoming of this peril it was only necessary for him sicuro make himself secure lavalife against a few, but this would not have been sufficient had the people 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 per private citizen makes verso 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 puro the Gracchi con Rome and to Messer Giorgio Scali durante Florence. But granted verso prince who has established himself as above, who can command, and is a man of courage, undismayed per adversity, who does not fail mediante other qualifications, and who, by his resolution and energy, keeps the whole people encouraged-such a one will never find himself deceived durante them, and it will be shown that he has laid his foundations well.

Con the latter case their government is weaker and more insecure, because it rests entirely on the goodwill of those citizens who are raised preciso the magistracy, and who, especially mediante troubled times, can destroy the government with great ease, either by intrigue or open defiance; and the prince has not the chance amid tumults preciso exercise absolute authority, because the citizens and subjects, accustomed sicuro receive orders from magistrates, are not of a mind preciso obey him amid these confusions, and there will always be per doubtful times per scarcity of men whom he can monopolio. For such a prince cannot rely upon what he observes durante quiet times, when citizens have need of the state, because then every one agrees with him; they all promise, and when death is far distant they all wish esatto die for him; but mediante troubled times, when the state has need of its citizens, then he finds but few. Therefore a wise prince ought esatto adopt such a course that his citizens will always sopra every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.