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it with them。 Nor will there ever be wanting to a prince legitimate
reasons to excuse this nonobservance。 Of this endless modern examples
could be given； showing how many treaties and engagements have been made
void and of no effect through the faithlessness of princes； and he who
has known best how to employ the fox has succeeded best。
But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic；
and to be a great pretender and dissembler； and men are so simple； and
so subject to present necessities； that he who seeks to deceive will
always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived。 One recent
example I cannot pass over in silence。 Alexander VI did nothing else but
deceive men； nor ever thought of doing otherwise； and he always found
victims； for there never was a man who had greater power in asserting；
or who with greater oaths would affirm a thing； yet would observe it
less； nevertheless his deceits always succeeded according to his wishes；
because he well understood this side of mankind。
Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities
I have enumerated； but it is very necessary to appear to have them。 And
I shall dare to say this also； that to have them and always to observe
them is injurious； and that to appear to have them is useful； to appear
merciful； faithful； humane； religious； upright； and to be so； but with a
mind so framed that should you require not to be so； you may be able and
know how to change to the opposite。
And you have to understand this； that a prince； especially a new one；
cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed； being often
forced； in order to maintain the state； to act contrary to faith；
friendship； humanity； and religion。 Therefore it is necessary for him to
have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as the winds and variations
of fortune force it； yet； as I have said above； not to diverge from the
good if he can avoid doing so； but； if pelled； then to know how to
set about it。
For this reason a prince ought to take care that he never lets anything
slip from his lips that is not replete with the above…named five
qualities； that he may appear to him who sees and hears him altogether
merciful； faithful； humane； upright； and religious。 There is nothing
more necessary to appear to have than this last quality； inasmuch as men
judge generally more by the eye than by the hand； because it belongs to
everybody to see you； to few to e in touch with you。 Every one sees
what you appear to be； few really know what you are； and those few dare
not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many； who have the majesty
of the state to defend them； and in the actions of all men； and
especially of princes； which it is not prudent to challenge； one judges
by the result。
For that reason； let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding
his state； the means will always be considered honest； and he will be
praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing
seems to be and by what es of it； and in the world there are only the
vulgar； for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground
to rest on。
One prince ＇1＇ of the present time； whom it is not well to name； never
preaches anything else but peace and good faith； and to both he is most
hostile； and either； if he had kept it； would have deprived him of
reputation and kingdom many a time。
1。 Maximilian I； Holy Roman Emperor。
CHAPTER XIX
THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED
Now； concerning the characteristics of which mention is made above； I
have spoken of the more important ones； the others I wish to discuss
briefly under this generality； that the prince must consider； as has
been in part said before； how to avoid those things which will make him
hated or contemptible； and as often as he shall have succeeded he will
have fulfilled his part； and he need not fear any danger in other
reproaches。
It makes him hated above all things； as I have said； to be rapacious；
and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects； from
both of which he must abstain。 And when neither their property nor
honour is touched； the majority of men live content； and he has only to
contend with the ambition of a few； whom he can curb with ease in many
ways。
It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle； frivolous；
effeminate； mean…spirited； irresolute； from all of which a prince should
guard himself as from a rock； and he should endeavour to show in his
actions greatness； courage； gravity； and fortitude； and in his private
dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are
irrevocable； and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can
hope either to deceive him or to get round him。
That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself；
and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against； for；
provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his
people； he can only be attacked with difficulty。 For this reason a
prince ought to have two fears； one from within； on account of his
subjects； the other from without； on account of external powers。 From
the latter he is defended by being well armed and having good allies；
and if he is well armed he will have good friends； and affairs will
always remain quiet within when they are quiet without； unless they
should have been already disturbed by conspiracy； and even should
affairs outside be disturbed； if he has carried out his preparations and
has lived as I have said； as long as he does not despair； he will resist
every attack； as I said Nabis the Spartan did。
But concerning his subjects； when affairs outside are disturbed he has
only to fear that they will conspire secretly； from which a prince can
easily secure himself by avoiding being hated and despised； and by
keeping the people satisfied with him； which it is most necessary for
him to acplish； as I said above at length。 And one of the most
efficacious remedies that a prince can have against conspiracies is not
to be hated and despised by the people； for he who conspires against a
prince always expects to please them by his removal； but when the
conspirator can only look forward to offending them； he will not have
the courage to take such a course； for the difficulties that confront a
conspirator are infinite。 And as experience shows； many have been the
conspiracies； but few have been successful； because he who conspires
cannot act alone； nor can he take a panion except from those whom he
believes to be malcontents； and as soon as you have opened your mind to
a malcontent you have given him the material with which to content
himself； for by denouncing you he can look for every advantage； so that；
seeing the gain from this course to be assured； and seeing the other to
be doubtful and full of dangers； he must be a very rare friend； or a
thoroughly obstinate e