按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
good if he can avoid doing so； but； if pelled； then to know how to
set about it。
For this reason a prince ought to take care that he never lets anything
slip from his lips that is not replete with the above…named five
qualities； that he may appear to him who sees and hears him altogether
merciful； faithful； humane； upright； and religious。 There is nothing
more necessary to appear to have than this last quality； inasmuch as men
judge generally more by the eye than by the hand； because it belongs to
everybody to see you； to few to e in touch with you。 Every one sees
what you appear to be； few really know what you are； and those few dare
not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many； who have the majesty
of the state to defend them； and in the actions of all men； and
especially of princes； which it is not prudent to challenge； one judges
by the result。
For that reason； let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding
his state； the means will always be considered honest； and he will be
praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing
seems to be and by what es of it； and in the world there are only the
vulgar； for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground
to rest on。
One prince ＇1＇ of the present time； whom it is not well to name； never
preaches anything else but peace and good faith； and to both he is most
hostile； and either； if he had kept it； would have deprived him of
reputation and kingdom many a time。
1。 Maximilian I； Holy Roman Emperor。
CHAPTER XIX
THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED
Now； concerning the characteristics of which mention is made above； I
have spoken of the more important ones； the others I wish to discuss
briefly under this generality； that the prince must consider； as has
been in part said before； how to avoid those things which will make him
hated or contemptible； and as often as he shall have succeeded he will
have fulfilled his part； and he need not fear any danger in other
reproaches。
It makes him hated above all things； as I have said； to be rapacious；
and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects； from
both of which he must abstain。 And when neither their property nor
honour is touched； the majority of men live content； and he has only to
contend with the ambition of a few； whom he can curb with ease in many
ways。
It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle； frivolous；
effeminate； mean…spirited； irresolute； from all of which a prince should
guard himself as from a rock； and he should endeavour to show in his
actions greatness； courage； gravity； and fortitude； and in his private
dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are
irrevocable； and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can
hope either to deceive him or to get round him。
That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself；
and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against； for；
provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his
people； he can only be attacked with difficulty。 For this reason a
prince ought to have two fears； one from within； on account of his
subjects； the other from without； on account of external powers。 From
the latter he is defended by being well armed and having good allies；
and if he is well armed he will have good friends； and affairs will
always remain quiet within when they are quiet without； unless they
should have been already disturbed by conspiracy； and even should
affairs outside be disturbed； if he has carried out his preparations and
has lived as I have said； as long as he does not despair； he will resist
every attack； as I said Nabis the Spartan did。
But concerning his subjects； when affairs outside are disturbed he has
only to fear that they will conspire secretly； from which a prince can
easily secure himself by avoiding being hated and despised； and by
keeping the people satisfied with him； which it is most necessary for
him to acplish； as I said above at length。 And one of the most
efficacious remedies that a prince can have against conspiracies is not
to be hated and despised by the people； for he who conspires against a
prince always expects to please them by his removal； but when the
conspirator can only look forward to offending them； he will not have
the courage to take such a course； for the difficulties that confront a
conspirator are infinite。 And as experience shows； many have been the
conspiracies； but few have been successful； because he who conspires
cannot act alone； nor can he take a panion except from those whom he
believes to be malcontents； and as soon as you have opened your mind to
a malcontent you have given him the material with which to content
himself； for by denouncing you he can look for every advantage； so that；
seeing the gain from this course to be assured； and seeing the other to
be doubtful and full of dangers； he must be a very rare friend； or a
thoroughly obstinate enemy of the prince； to keep faith with you。
And； to reduce the matter into a small pass； I say that； on the side
of the conspirator； there is nothing but fear； jealousy； prospect of
punishment to terrify him； but on the side of the prince there is the
majesty of the principality； the laws； the protection of friends and the
state to defend him； so that； adding to all these things the popular
goodwill； it is impossible that any one should be so rash as to
conspire。 For whereas in general the conspirator has to fear before the
execution of his plot； in this case he has also to fear the sequel to
the crime； because on account of it he has the people for an enemy； and
thus cannot hope for any escape。
Endless examples could be given on this subject； but I will be content
with one； brought to pass within the memory of our fathers。 Messer
Annibale Bentivoglio； who was prince in Bologna （grandfather of the
present Annibale）； having been