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

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

But one who, mediante opposition preciso the people, becomes per prince by the favour of the nobles, ought, above everything, preciso seek to win the people over sicuro 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 sicuro their benefactor; thus the people quickly become more devoted esatto him than if he had been raised preciso the principality by their favours; and the prince can win their affections in many ways, but as these vary according onesto the circumstances one cannot give fixed rules adultspace, so I omit them; but, I repeat, it is necessary for a prince puro have the people friendly, otherwise he has giammai security sopra adversity.

These principalities are liable onesto 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 against verso 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 a 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 preciso the Gracchi per Rome and esatto Messer Giorgio Scali con Florence. But granted per prince who has established himself as above, who can command, and is verso man of courage, undismayed sopra adversity, who does not fail mediante other qualifications, and who, by his resolution and energy, keeps the whole people encouraged-such verso one will never find himself deceived in them, and it will be shown that he has laid his foundations well.

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 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 sicuro exercise absolute authority, because the citizens and subjects, accustomed esatto receive orders from magistrates, are not of a mind to obey him amid these confusions, and there will always be durante doubtful times verso scarcity of men whom he can privativa. For such per prince cannot rely upon what he observes mediante 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 to die for him; but con troubled times, when the state has need of its citizens, then he finds but few. Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always con every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.