The Prince
by Nicolo Machiavelli
Chapter VI
Concerning new principalities which are acquired
by one's own arms and ability
Let no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new
principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples
both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost
always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation
their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of
others or attain to the power of those they imitate. A wise
man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men,
and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his
ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of
it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to
hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing
the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take
aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their
strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with
the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to
reach.
I say, therefore, that in entirely new principalities,
where there is a new prince, more or less difficulty is
found in keeping them, accordingly as there is more or less
ability in him who has acquired the state. Now, as the fact
of becoming a prince from a private station presupposes
either ability or fortune, it is clear that one or other of
these things will mitigate in some degree many difficulties.
Nevertheless, he who has relied least on fortune is
established the strongest. Further, it facilitates matters
when the prince, having no other state, is compelled to
reside there in person.
But to come to those who, by their own ability and not
through fortune, have risen to be princes, I say that Moses,
Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and such like are the most
excellent examples. And although one may not discuss Moses,
he having been a mere executor of the will of God, yet he
ought to be admired, if only for that favour which made him
worthy to speak with God. But in considering Cyrus and
others who have acquired or founded kingdoms, all will be
found admirable; and if their particular deeds and conduct
shall be considered, they will not be found inferior to
those of Moses, although he had so great a preceptor. And in
examining their actions and lives one cannot see that they
owed anything to fortune beyond opportunity, which brought
them the material to mould into the form which seemed best
to them. Without that opportunity their powers of mind would
have been extinguished, and without those powers the
opportunity would have come in vain.
It was necessary, therefore, to Moses that he should find
the people of Israel in Egypt enslaved and oppressed by the
Egyptians, in order that they should be disposed to follow
him so as to be delivered out of bondage. It was necessary
that Romulus should not remain in Alba, and that he should
be abandoned at his birth, in order that he should become
King of Rome and founder of the fatherland. It was necessary
that Cyrus should find the Persians discontented with the
government of the Medes, and the Medes soft and effeminate
through their long peace. Theseus could not have shown his
ability had he not found the Athenians dispersed. These
opportunities, therefore, made those men fortunate, and
their high ability enabled them to recognize the opportunity
whereby their country was ennobled and made famous.
Those who by valorous ways become princes, like these
men, acquire a principality with difficulty, but they keep
it with ease. The difficulties they have in acquiring it
rise in part from the new rules and methods which they are
forced to introduce to establish their government and its
security. And it ought to be remembered that there is
nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to
conduct, or more uncertain in its success, then to take the
lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because
the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well
under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those
who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly
from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side,
and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily
believe in new things until they have had a long experience
of them. Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile
have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans,
whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the
prince is endangered along with them.
It is necessary, therefore, if we desire to discuss this
matter thoroughly, to inquire whether these innovators can
rely on themselves or have to depend on others: that is to
say, whether, to consummate their enterprise, have they to
use prayers or can they use force? In the first instance
they always succeed badly, and never compass anything; but
when they can rely on themselves and use force, then they
are rarely endangered. Hence it is that all armed prophets
have conquered, and the unarmed ones have been destroyed.
Besides the reasons mentioned, the nature of the people is
variable, and whilst it is easy to persuade them, it is
difficult to fix them in that persuasion. And thus it is
necessary to take such measures that, when they believe no
longer, it may be possible to make them believe by
force.
If Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus had been unarmed
they could not have enforced their constitutions for
long--as happened in our time to Fra Girolamo Savonarola,
who was ruined with his new order of things immediately the
multitude believed in him no longer, and he had no means of
keeping steadfast those who believed or of making the
unbelievers to believe. Therefore such as these have great
difficulties in consummating their enterprise, for all their
dangers are in the ascent, yet with ability they will
overcome them; but when these are overcome, and those who
envied them their success are exterminated, they will begin
to be respected, and they will continue afterwards powerful,
secure, honoured, and happy.
To these great examples I wish to add a lesser one; still
it bears some resemblance to them, and I wish it to suffice
me for all of a like kind: it is Hiero the
Syracusan1 This man rose
from a private station to be Prince of Syracuse, nor did he,
either, owe anything to fortune but opportunity; for the
Syracusans, being oppressed, chose him for their captain,
afterwards he was rewarded by being made their prince. He
was of so great ability, even as a private citizen, that one
who writes of him says he wanted nothing but a kingdom to be
a king. This man abolished the old soldiery, organized the
new, gave up old alliances, made new ones; and as he had his
own soldiers and allies, on such foundations he was able to
build any edifice: thus, whilst he had endured much trouble
in acquiring, he had but little in keeping.
1 Hiero II, born about 307 B.C.,
died 216 B.C.
-
- The Prince
by Nicolo Machiavelli
Chapter V
<<< Contents
>>> Chapter
VII
|
