virtue and fortune:The making of a good prince
...e must do them all at once and not drag it out. This makes his people feel more secure. Strength (virtue) of a principality should be measured by the quality of the principality. This depends on how much power the prince has and whether or not he can stand on his own or if he needs the protection of others. A good prince should be self-sufficient by either having many troops or an excess of money so he may gather troops and fight a war against whomever. A prince who has a strong city and is not hated cannot be attacked in the eyes of Machiavelli. A powerful prince will overcome all difficulties. While a prince’s problems are acquired through ability (virtue) or through fortune they are kept without them. Institutions of religion which are powerful keep princes in power in whatever manner they act and live their lives. For example: Princes have states and do not defend them, subjects that they do not rule. The states, undefended, are never taken away and the subjects, ungoverned, do not care. The subjects do not think about or sever their ties with the prince. Ecclesiastical principalities are said to be the only secure and happy ones. They are protected by higher powers, God. On a prince’s soldiers, a wise prince avoids the use of auxiliary and mixed troops and relies on his own men. The prince should rather lose with his own troops rather than conquer another with someone else’s. The primary reason for the downfall of the Roman Empire was Stehr, 3 when the Goths were hired as mercenaries and the strength of the Roman Empire weakened. The safety of a principality is due to the use of a prince’s own soldiers and this is still dependent on fortune. In order for a prince to stay strong in his position he must learn how not to be good and be able to use or not use what he knows. Something that appears to be a virtue may end in destruction while a completely different thing which seems to be vice may result in safety and well-being. It is good to be considered generous unless a prince is generous by virtue. These should be wealthy displays by using his resources and eventually maintaining his display, by the increase of taxes, which will need to be put on his people. These people will then become even poorer than they already are. Feelings toward the prince will then become hateful. Generosity can have consequences. A Prince will become generous to people that he takes nothing from and cheap to people he gives nothing to. Being cheap is truly the only way a prince can rule. It keeps him from hurting his people with higher taxes and still be able to defend his lands by having his people fight for him. In conquering other lands with his subjects by his side a prince can gain fortunes by taking from others. A prince should be merciful and not cruel but not so merciful that he is taken advantage of. Cruelty can be used appropriately in order to keep his people loyal and together. Princes who have conquered new lands are considered cruel for the very simple fact they have used force by war to take over their land. It will take time for his new people to see the merciful side of their prince if there is one. When a prince deals with his army being cruel should not be a worry on his mind. Without a reputation of being cruel he would not be able to keep his army together. Stehr, 4 A ...