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never in peaceful times stand idle； but increase his resources with
industry in such a way that they may be available to him in adversity；
so that if fortune changes it may find him prepared to resist her blows。
CHAPTER XV
CONCERNING THINGS FOR WHICH MEN； AND ESPECIALLY PRINCES； ARE PRAISED OR
BLAMED
IT REMAINS now to see what ought to be the rules of conduct for a prince
towards subject and friends。 And as I know that many have written on
this point； I expect I shall be considered presumptuous in mentioning it
again； especially as in discussing it I shall depart from the methods of
other people。 But； it being my intention to write a thing which shall be
useful to him who apprehends it； it appears to me more appropriate to
follow up the real truth of a matter than the imagination of it； for
many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never
been known or seen； because how one lives is so far distant from how one
ought to live； that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be
done； sooner effects his ruin than his preservation； for a man who
wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with
what destroys him among so much that is evil。
Hence it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how
to do wrong； and to make use of it or not according to necessity。
Therefore； putting on one side imaginary things concerning a prince； and
discussing those which are real； I say that all men when they are spoken
of； and chiefly princes for being more highly placed； are remarkable for
some of those qualities which bring them either blame or praise； and
thus it is that one is reputed liberal； another miserly； using a Tuscan
term （because an avaricious person in our language is still he who
desires to possess by robbery； whilst we call one miserly who deprives
himself too much of the use of his own）； one is reputed generous； one
rapacious； one cruel； one passionate； one faithless； another
faithful； one effeminate and cowardly； another bold and brave； one
affable； another haughty； one lascivious； another chaste； one sincere；
another cunning； one hard； another easy； one grave； another frivolous；
one religious； another unbelieving； and the like。 And I know that every
one will confess that it would be most praiseworthy in a prince to
exhibit all the above qualities that are considered good； but because
they can neither be entirely possessed nor observed； for human
conditions do not permit it； it is necessary for him to be sufficiently
prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which
would lose him his state； and also to keep himself； if it be possible；
from those which would not lose him it； but this not being possible； he
may with less hesitation abandon himself to them。 And again； he need not
make himself uneasy at incurring a reproach for those vices without
which the state can only be saved with difficulty； for if everything is
considered carefully； it will be found that something which looks like
virtue； if followed； would be his ruin； whilst something else； which
looks like vice； yet followed brings him security and prosperity。
CHAPTER XVI
CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS
MENCING then with the first of the above…named characteristics； I say
that it would be well to be reputed liberal。 Nevertheless； liberality
exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it；
injures you； for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be
exercised； it may not bee known； and you will not avoid the reproach
of its opposite。 Therefore； any one wishing to maintain among men the
name of liberal is obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence； so
that a prince thus inclined will consume in such acts all his property；
and will be pelled in the end； if he wish to maintain the name of
liberal； to unduly weigh down his people； and tax them； and do
everything he can to get money。 This will soon make him odious to his
subjects； and being poor he will be little valued by any one； thus；
with his liberality； having offended many and rewarded few； he is
affected by the very first trouble and imperilled by whatever may be the
first danger； recognizing this himself； and wishing to draw back from
it； he runs at once into the reproach of being miserly。
Therefore； a prince； not being able to exercise this virtue of
liberality in such a way that it is recognized； except to his cost； if
he is wise he ought not to fear the reputation of being mean； for in
time he will e to be more considered than if liberal； seeing that
with his economy his revenues are enough； that he can defend himself
against all attacks； and is able to engage in enterprises without
burdening his people； thus it es to pass that he exercises liberality
towards all from whom he does not take； who are numberless； and meanness
towards those to whom he does not give； who are few。
We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have
been considered mean； the rest have failed。 Pope Julius the Second was
assisted in reaching the papacy by a reputation for liberality； yet he
did not strive afterwards to keep it up； when he made war on the King of
France； and he made many wars without imposing any extraordinary tax on
his subjects； for he supplied his additional expenses out of his long
thriftiness。 The present King of Spain would not have undertaken or
conquered in so many enterprises if he had been reputed liberal。 A
prince； therefore； provided that he has not to rob his subjects； that he
can defend himself； that he does not bee poor and abject； that he is
not forced to bee rapacious； ought to hold of little account a
reputation for being mean； for it is one of those vices which will
enable him to govern。
And if any one should say： Caesar obtained empire by liberality； and
many others have reached the highest positions by having been liberal；
and by being considered so； I answer： Either you ar