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！
necessity pels him； as is said above； because if he conquers you are
at his discretion； and princes ought to avoid as much as possible being
at the discretion of any one。 The Venetians joined with France against
the Duke of Milan； and this alliance； which caused their ruin； could
have been avoided。 But when it cannot be avoided； as happened to the
Florentines when the Pope and Spain sent armies to attack Lombardy； then
in such a case； for the above reasons； the prince ought to favour one of
the parties。
Never let any Government imagine that it can choose perfectly safe
courses； rather let it expect to have to take very doubtful ones；
because it is found in ordinary affairs that one never seeks to avoid
one trouble without running into another； but prudence consists in
knowing how to distinguish the character of troubles； and for choice to
take the lesser evil。
A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability； and to honour
the proficient in every art。 At the same time he should encourage his
citizens to practise their callings peaceably； both in merce and
agriculture； and in every other following； so that the one should not be
deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away
from him or another from opening up trade for fear of taxes； but the
prince ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and
designs in any way to honour his city or state。
Further； he ought to entertain the people with festivals and spectacles
at convenient seasons of the year； and as every city is divided into
guilds or into societies； he ought to hold such bodies in esteem； and
associate with them sometimes； and show himself an example of courtesy
and liberality； nevertheless； always maintaining the majesty of his
rank； for this he must never consent to abate in anything。
CHAPTER XXII
CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES
THE choice of servants is of no little importance to a prince； and they
are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince。 And the
first opinion which one forms of a prince； and of his understanding； is
by observing the men he has around him； and when they are capable and
faithful he may always be considered wise； because he has known how to
recognize the capable and to keep them faithful。 But when they are
otherwise one cannot form a good opinion of him； for the prime error
which he made was in choosing them。
There were none who knew Messer Antonio da Venafro as the servant of
Pandolfo Petrucci； Prince of Siena； who would not consider Pandolfo to
be a very clever man in having Venafro for his servant。 Because there
are three classes of intellects： one which prehends by itself；
another which appreciates what others prehend； and a third which
neither prehends by itself nor by the showing of others； the first is
the most excellent； the second is good； the third is useless。 Therefore；
it follows necessarily that； if Pandolfo was not in the first rank； he
was in the second； for whenever one has judgment to know good or bad
when it is said and done； although he himself may not have the
initiative； yet he can recognize the good and the bad in his servant；
and the one he can praise and the other correct； thus the servant cannot
hope to deceive him； and is kept honest。
But to enable a prince to form an opinion of his servant there is one
test which never falls； when you see the servant thinking more of his
own interests than of yours； and seeking inwardly his own profit in
everything； such a man will never make a good servant； nor will you ever
be able to trust him； because he who has the state of another in his
hands ought never to think of himself； but always of his prince； and
never pay any attention to matters in which the prince is not concerned。
On the other to keep his servant honest the prince ought to study him；
honouring him； enriching him； doing him kindnesses； sharing with him the
honours and cares； and at the same time let him see that he cannot stand
alone； so that many honours not make him desire more； many riches make
him wish for more； and that many cares may make him dread changes。 When；
therefore； servants； and princes towards servants； are thus disposed；
they can trust each other； but when it is otherwise； the end will always
be disastrous for either one or the other。
CHAPTER XXIII
HOW FLATTERERS SHOULD BE AVOIDED
I DO NOT wish to leave out an important branch of this subject； for it
is a danger from which princes are with difficulty preserved； unless
they are very careful and discriminating。 It is that of flatterers； of
whom courts arc full； because men are so self…placent in their own
affairs； and in a way so deceived in them； that they are preserved with
difficulty from this pest； and if they wish to defend themselves they
run the danger of falling into contempt。 Because there is no other way
of guarding oneself from flatterers except letting men understand that
to tell you the truth does not offend you； but when every one may tell
you the truth； respect for you abates。
Therefore a wise prince ought to hold a third course by choosing the
wise men in his state； and giving to them only the liberty of speaking
the truth to him； and then only of those things of which he inquires；
and of none others； but he ought to question them upon everything； and
listen to their opinions； and afterwards form his own conclusions。 With
these councillors； separately and collectively； he ought to carry
himself in such a way that each of them should know that； the more
freely he shall speak； the more he shall be preferred； outside of these；
he should listen to no one； pursue the thing resolved on； and be
steadfast in his resolutions。 He who does otherwise is either overthrown
by flatterers； or is so often changed by varying opinions that he falls
into contempt。
I wish on this subject to adduce a modern example。 Fra Luca； the man of
affairs to Maximilian； the pre