Therefore, one who becomes verso prince through the favour of the people ought preciso keep them friendly, and this he can easily do seeing they only ask not to be oppressed by him
But one who, nome utente lovestruck per opposition to the people, becomes per prince by the favour of the nobles, ought, above everything, esatto seek puro win the people over preciso 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 to their benefactor; thus the people quickly become more devoted onesto him than if he had been raised sicuro the principality by their favours; and the prince can win their affections in 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 per prince preciso have the people friendly, otherwise he has no security in adversity.
These principalities are liable preciso danger when they are passing from the civil sicuro 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 verso 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 onesto make himself secure against per 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 a 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 durante Rome and to Messer Giorgio Scali mediante Florence. But granted per prince who has established himself as above, who can command, and is per man of courage, undismayed per 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 con them, and it will be shown that he has laid his foundations well.
Sopra 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 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 a mind puro obey him amid these confusions, and there will always be in doubtful times verso scarcity of men whom he can esclusiva. 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 onesto die for him; but mediante troubled times, when the state has need of its citizens, then he finds but few. Therefore per wise prince ought onesto adopt such per course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.
