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which the state can only be saved with difficulty； for if everything is
considered carefully； it will be found that something which looks like
virtue； if followed； would be his ruin； whilst something else； which
looks like vice； yet followed brings him security and prosperity。
CHAPTER XVI
CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS
MENCING then with the first of the above…named characteristics； I say
that it would be well to be reputed liberal。 Nevertheless； liberality
exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it；
injures you； for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be
exercised； it may not bee known； and you will not avoid the reproach
of its opposite。 Therefore； any one wishing to maintain among men the
name of liberal is obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence； so
that a prince thus inclined will consume in such acts all his property；
and will be pelled in the end； if he wish to maintain the name of
liberal； to unduly weigh down his people； and tax them； and do
everything he can to get money。 This will soon make him odious to his
subjects； and being poor he will be little valued by any one； thus；
with his liberality； having offended many and rewarded few； he is
affected by the very first trouble and imperilled by whatever may be the
first danger； recognizing this himself； and wishing to draw back from
it； he runs at once into the reproach of being miserly。
Therefore； a prince； not being able to exercise this virtue of
liberality in such a way that it is recognized； except to his cost； if
he is wise he ought not to fear the reputation of being mean； for in
time he will e to be more considered than if liberal； seeing that
with his economy his revenues are enough； that he can defend himself
against all attacks； and is able to engage in enterprises without
burdening his people； thus it es to pass that he exercises liberality
towards all from whom he does not take； who are numberless； and meanness
towards those to whom he does not give； who are few。
We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have
been considered mean； the rest have failed。 Pope Julius the Second was
assisted in reaching the papacy by a reputation for liberality； yet he
did not strive afterwards to keep it up； when he made war on the King of
France； and he made many wars without imposing any extraordinary tax on
his subjects； for he supplied his additional expenses out of his long
thriftiness。 The present King of Spain would not have undertaken or
conquered in so many enterprises if he had been reputed liberal。 A
prince； therefore； provided that he has not to rob his subjects； that he
can defend himself； that he does not bee poor and abject； that he is
not forced to bee rapacious； ought to hold of little account a
reputation for being mean； for it is one of those vices which will
enable him to govern。
And if any one should say： Caesar obtained empire by liberality； and
many others have reached the highest positions by having been liberal；
and by being considered so； I answer： Either you are a prince in fact；
or in a way to bee one。 In the first case this liberality is
dangerous； in the second it is very necessary to be considered liberal；
and Caesar was one of those who wished to bee pre…eminent in Rome；
but if he had survived after being so； and had not moderated his
expenses； he would have destroyed his government。 And if any one should
reply： Many have been princes； and have done great things with armies；
who have been considered very liberal； I reply： Either a prince spends
that which is his own or his subjects' or else that of others。 In the
first case he ought to be sparing； in the second he ought not to neglect
any opportunity for liberality。 And to the price who goes forth with his
army； supporting it by pillage； sack； and extortion； handling that which
belongs to others； this liberality is necessary； otherwise he would not
be followed by soldiers。 And of that which is neither yours nor your
subjects' you can be a ready giver； as were Cyrus； Caesar； and
Alexander； because it does not take away your reputation if you squander
that of others； but adds to it； it is only squandering your own that
injures you。
And there is nothing wastes so rapidly as liberality； for even whilst
you exercise it you lose the power to do so； and so bee either poor
or despised； or else； in avoiding poverty； rapacious and hated。 And a
prince should guard himself； above all things； against being despised
and hated； and liberality leads you to both。 Therefore it is wiser to
have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred；
than to be pelled through seeking a reputation for liberality to
incur a name for rapacity which begets reproach with hatred。
CHAPTER XVII
CONCERNING CRUELTY AND CLEMENCY； AND WHETHER IT IS BETTER TO BE LOVED
THAN FEARED
ING now to the other qualities mentioned above； I say that every
prince ought to desire to be considered clement and not cruel。
Nevertheless he ought to take care not to misuse this clemency。 Cesare
Borgia was considered cruel； notwithstanding； his cruelty reconciled the
Romagna； unified it； and restored it to peace and loyalty。 And if this
be rightly considered； he will be seen to have been much more merciful
than the Florentine people； who； to avoid a reputation for cruelty；
permitted Pistoia to be destroyed。 Therefore a prince； so long as he
keeps his subjects united and loyal； ought not to mind the reproach of
cruelty； because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those
who； through too much mercy； allow disorders to arise； from which follow
murders or robberies； for these are wont to injure the whole people；
whilst those executions which originate with a prince offend the
individual only。
And of all princes； it is impossible for the new prince to avoid the
imputation of cruelty； owing to new states being full of dangers。 Hence
Virgil； through the mouth of Dido； excuses the inhumanity of her reign
owing to its being new； saying：
Res dura； et regni novitas me talia cogunt
Moliri； et late fines custode tueri。 ＇1＇
Nevertheless he ought to be slow to believe and to act； nor should he
himself show fear； but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and
humanity； so that too much confidence may not make him incautious and
too much distrust render him intolerable。
Upon this a question arises： whether it be better to be loved than
feared or feared than loved？ It may be answered that one should wish to
be both； but； because it is difficult to unite them in one person； is
much safer to be feared than loved； when； of the two； either must be
dispensed with。 Because this is to be asserted in general of men； that
they are ungrateful； fickle； false； cowardly； covetous； and as long as
you succeed they are yours entirely； they will offer you their blood；
property； life and children； as is said above； when the need is far
distant； but when it approaches they turn against you。 And that prince
who； relying entirely on their promises； has neglected other
precautions； is ruined； because friendships that are obtained by
payments； and not by greatness or nobility of mind； may indeed be
earned； but they are not secured； and in time of need cannot be relied
upon； and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one
who is feared； for love is preserved by the link of obligation which；
owing to the baseness of men； is broken at every opportunity for their
advantage； but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never
fails。
Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that； if he
does not win love； he avoids hatred； because he can endure very well
being feared whilst he is not hated； which will always be as long as he
abstains from the property of his citizens and subjects and from their
women。 But when it is necessary for him to proceed against the life of
someone； he must do it on proper justification and for manifest cause；
but above all things he must keep his hands off the property of others；
because men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss
of their patrimony。 Besides； pretexts for taking away the property are
never wanting； for he who has once begun to live by robbery will always
find pretexts for seizing what belongs to others； but reasons for taking
life； on the contrary； are more difficult to find and sooner lapse。 But
when a prince is with his army； and has under control a multitude of
soldiers； then it is quite necessary for him to disregard the reputation
of cruelty； for without it he would never hold his army united or
disposed to its duties。
Among the wonderful deeds of Hannibal this one is enumerated： that
having led an enormous army； posed of many various races of men； to
fight in foreign lands； no dissensions arose either among them or