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 sicuro be oppressed by him
But one who, durante opposition to the people, becomes a prince by the favour of the nobles, ought, above everything, preciso seek to win the people over esatto 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 puro him than if he had been raised esatto the principality by their favours; and the prince can win their affections per 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 verso prince to have the people friendly, otherwise he has mai security con adversity.
These principalities are liable onesto danger when they are passing from the civil esatto 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 a 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 puro 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 verso 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 to the Gracchi in Rome and to Messer Giorgio Scali in Florence. But granted verso prince who has established himself as above, who can command, and is a man of courage, undismayed durante adversity, who does not fail in other qualifications, and who, by his resolution and energy, keeps the whole people encouraged-such per one will never find himself deceived mediante them, and it will be shown that he has laid his foundations well.
Per 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 con 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 puro receive orders from magistrates, are not of verso mind sicuro obey him amid these confusions, and there will always be con doubtful times a scarcity of men whom he can esclusiva. For such per prince cannot rely upon what he observes per 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 sicuro die for him; but con troubled times, when the state has need of its citizens, then he finds but few. Therefore per wise prince ought sicuro adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, badoo and then he will always find them faithful.