Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Chapter 1
All countries are divided into republics and states. States are divided into new and old.
Chapter 2
It is harder to maintain power in new states because they are formed through the seizure of power.
In old states, power is passed down from ancestors, which complicates its loss. Even a mediocre ruler manages this better, and in case of losing power, the ruler can easily regain it by exploiting the mistakes of the usurper.
Chapter 3
It is always more difficult to maintain a country after conquest because the conqueror worsens the conditions. During a repeat conquest, repression helps to retain control better than after the first one. If a country does not differ in language and traditions, it is easy to conquer; it is enough to maintain taxes at the same level. However, if the country has its own traditions and language, it can only be conquered by resettling or establishing a colony there.
For a lesser evil, a person can compensate, but for a greater one, they cannot.
Chapter 4
States ruled by one are difficult to conquer but easy to retain. States where power changes hands are easier to conquer but impossible to retain.
Chapter 5
There are three ways to retain a city after conquest:
- Destroy it;
- Move into it;
- Establish your deputies there who will be subordinate to you.
The most effective is the first method because after destruction, there will be no one in the city who will long for the past.
Chapter 6
The emperor must set himself as an example to the best rulers.
An ordinary person comes to power for bravery or by fate, but only those who have earned it by bravery can maintain power.
Sooner or later, people may become disillusioned with the ruler. It is then that he must use his bravery and strength to enforce the rules he has established.
Chapter 7
It is very difficult for a ruler who was not born into power. Such a person must demonstrate maximum bravery to stay in power. Rulership can be received as a gift or you can be appointed as a deputy. Stories of both successful and unsuccessful cases are known. An average person initially lacks governance skills but can cope with them through their intellect and bravery.
One who thinks that their benevolence will make others forget past offenses is mistaken.
Chapter 8
Power can be seized and retained by cruelty. Cruelty is useful when used for the benefit of society.
Cruelty will not help if it exceeds the measure.
One who wishes to master a state must anticipate all offenses and end them, then people will forget about them and be at ease.
Chapter 9
A ruler should be in friendship with the people; otherwise, they may overthrow him in difficult times. In times of hardship, subjects may betray the ruler, and such a test occurs only once.
A wise ruler should care that citizens need him and the state.
Chapter 10
How to measure the strength of a state?
There are two options: to have a sufficient army to engage in battle for the city, or to prepare the city for siege. For this, food supplies for a year are needed. People will try to rebel when the enemy begins to destroy property, but the ruler can prevent this by intervening in time.
Chapter 11
It is difficult to defeat church states because it requires bravery or the mercy of fate. However, it is easy to retain them because nothing is required for this. After all, everyone worships the ruler.
Chapter 12
The foundation of the ruler's power is a strong army and laws. Armies can be own, allied, or hired. Hired and allied armies are useless and dangerous.
Chapter 13
Allied armies are dangerous because their defeat threatens the lord with death, and victory entails dependence. It is better to lose with your own army than to win with allies.
Chapter 14
War is the only duty that a ruler cannot delegate to others.
Chapter 15
The ruler must be able to refrain from good and skillfully use it. A prudent ruler should avoid faults that can deprive him of his state and preserve those that bring benefits but do not exceed the measure.
Chapter 16
It is good when the lord has the reputation of being generous. However, it is not worth spending money to make subjects consider the ruler generous. It is worth being modest, and in difficult times, to show that thanks to his frugality, the ruler does not burden the people with additional taxes. Then the reputation of being generous will be established.
Chapter 17
The ruler can inspire either fear or love. It is better to inspire fear because love can be disregarded for one's own benefit.
Fear should not provoke hatred. For this, the ruler should not encroach on the personal property and dwellings of his subjects. If he wants to execute someone, he must always follow through with his actions. People will forgive the death of a father sooner than the loss of their property.
The people love the ruler at their own discretion, and they fear him because of his actions.
Chapter 18
The lord must combine the strength of two beasts: the lion and the fox. This is necessary to avoid all traps and give a rebuff at the right moment. It is good if, at the same time, he appears honest and noble because most people will not be able to verify it. And those who doubt it will not be able to prove it.
Chapter 19
The worst thing for a ruler is to lose the trust of his subjects. This can happen due to interference in personal life or attempts to confiscate property. If the subjects love the ruler, it will be difficult for bellicose neighbors to capture the state or provoke a coup.
To protect against external problems, the ruler needs an army and allies, but one who has an army will easily find allies.
The ruler may fear conspiracies if he enjoys the voluntary support of the people. A conspirator always fears to conspire because he needs allies, finding them is difficult, and whoever reveals the conspiracy will receive the ruler's approval.
If citizens support the ruler, the conspirator will fear conspiracy and its consequences after the ruler's murder.
All matters that are disagreeable to the people should be entrusted to someone else by the ruler, so as not to lose the respect of the people.
Good deeds can provoke hatred just as bad ones can.
Chapter 20
About the benefit of fortresses: by arming the subjects, you will gain an army; by disarming them, you will show cowardice, and they will hate you. Attempts to create divisions will never help the ruler. In peacetime, they are beneficial to the ruler, but in wartime, they are harmful. A wise ruler himself creates enemies so that his subjects are proud of him. For rulers who fear the people more than external enemies, fortresses are useful. And for those who fear external enemies more, they are not useful. Therefore, the best of all fortresses is not to be hated by one's own people, because no fortresses will save you if you are hated by the people when the people take up arms, foreigners will always be with them.
Chapter 21
The greatness of the ruler is promoted by his military successes. In addition, he must reward the worthy and punish those who are not. He must always indicate his position and support one side or the other. This is always better than standing aside. One who does not choose a side becomes the prey of the victor.
It is not worth striving to become an ally of the strong.
Chapter 22
The intelligence of the ruler is primarily judged by the people he chooses for his entourage.
There are three types of intelligence:
- One understands everything on his own.
- The second can understand what the first understood.
- The third understands and knows nothing himself. If an advisor cares more about himself, he is a bad assistant.
Chapter 23
A prudent ruler should find people who will tell him the truth, but only about what he asks. The ruler should always consult with others, but only when he asks for advice. He must pay attention when one of the advisors tells him the truth.
A ruler who does not possess wisdom himself is senseless to give advice. Unless he trusts a wise person and unquestioningly follows all his advice.
Chapter 24
A new ruler always attracts people more than one who has inherited power. Especially if his actions are full of bravery. He attracts much more, because people live for the present day.
Chapter 25
Fate is like a river, it can only be stopped and directed in the right direction when it is calm.
Chapter 26
Call to conquer Italy and free it from the hands of the barbarians.