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1CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH THE STRENGTH OF ALL PRINCIPALITIES OUGHT TO BE MEASURED It is necessary to consider another
2point in examining the character of these principalities: that is, whether a prince has such power that, in case of
3need, he can support himself with his own resources, or whether he has always need of the assistance of others. And to
4make this quite clear I say that I consider those who are able to support themselves by their own resources who can,
5either by abundance of men or money, raise a sufficient army to join battle against any one who comes to attack them;
6and I consider those always to have need of others who cannot show themselves against the enemy in the field, but are
7forced to defend themselves by sheltering behind walls. The first case has been discussed, but we will speak of it again
8should it recur. In the second case one can say nothing except to encourage such princes to provision and fortify their
9towns, and not on any account to defend the country. And whoever shall fortify his town well, and shall have managed the
10other concerns of his subjects in the way stated above, and to be often repeated, will never be attacked without great
11caution, for men are always adverse to enterprises where difficulties can be seen, and it will be seen not to be an easy
12thing to attack one who has his town well fortified, and is not hated by his people. The cities of Germany are
13absolutely free, they own but little country around them, and they yield obedience to the emperor when it suits them,
14nor do they fear this or any other power they may have near them, because they are fortified in such a way that every
15one thinks the taking of them by assault would be tedious and difficult, seeing they have proper ditches and walls, they
16have sufficient artillery, and they always keep in public depots enough for one year's eating, drinking, and firing. And
17beyond this, to keep the people quiet and without loss to the state, they always have the means of giving work to the
18community in those labours that are the life and strength of the city, and on the pursuit of which the people are
19supported; they also hold military exercises in repute, and moreover have many ordinances to uphold them. Therefore, a
20prince who has a strong city, and had not made himself odious, will not be attacked, or if any one should attack he will
21only be driven off with disgrace; again, because that the affairs of this world are so changeable, it is almost
22impossible to keep an army a whole year in the field without being interfered with. And whoever should reply: If the
23people have property outside the city, and see it burnt, they will not remain patient, and the long siege and
24self-interest will make them forget their prince; to this I answer that a powerful and courageous prince will overcome
25all such difficulties by giving at one time hope to his subjects that the evil will not be for long, at another time
26fear of the cruelty of the enemy, then preserving himself adroitly from those subjects who seem to him to be too bold.
27Further, the enemy would naturally on his arrival at once burn and ruin the country at the time when the spirits of the
28people are still hot and ready for the defence; and, therefore, so much the less ought the prince to hesitate; because
29after a time, when spirits have cooled, the damage is already done, the ills are incurred, and there is no longer any
30remedy; and therefore they are so much the more ready to unite with their prince, he appearing to be under obligations
31to them now that their houses have been burnt and their possessions ruined in his defence. For it is the nature of men
32to be bound by the benefits they confer as much as by those they receive. Therefore, if everything is well considered,
33it will not be difficult for a wise prince to keep the minds of his citizens steadfast from first to last, when he does
34not fail to support and defend them.
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