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you to acquire a state is to be master of the art。 Francesco Sforza； through
being martial； from a private person became Duke of Milan； and the sons；
through avoiding the hardships and troubles of arms； from dukes became
private persons。 For among other evils which being unarmed brings you； it
causes you to be despised； and this is one of those ignominies against
which a prince ought to guard himself； as is shown later on。 Because there
is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed； and it is not
reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him
who is unarmed； or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed
servants。 Because； there being in the one disdain and in the other suspicion；
it is not possible for them to work well together。 And therefore a prince
who does not understand the art of war； over and above the other
misfortunes already mentioned； cannot be respected by his soldiers； nor
can he rely on them。 He ought never； therefore； to have out of his thoughts
this subject of war； and in peace he should addict himself more to its
exercise than in war； this he can do in two ways； the one by action； the
other by study。
As regards action； he ought above all things to keep his men well
organized and drilled； to follow incessantly the chase； by which he
accustoms his body to hardships； and learns something of the nature of
localities； and gets to find out how the mountains rise； how the valleys
open out； how the plains lie； and to understand the nature of rivers and
marshes； and in all this to take the greatest care。 Which knowledge is
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useful in two ways。 Firstly； he learns to know his country； and is better
able to undertake its defence； afterwards； by means of the knowledge and
observation of that locality； he understands with ease any other which it
may be necessary for him to study hereafter； because the hills； valleys； and
plains； and rivers and marshes that are； for instance； in Tuscany； have a
certain resemblance to those of other countries； so that with a knowledge
of the aspect of one country one can easily arrive at a knowledge of others。
And the prince that lacks this skill lacks the essential which it is desirable
that a captain should possess； for it teaches him to surprise his enemy； to
select quarters； to lead armies； to array the battle； to besiege towns to
advantage。
Philopoemen；＇*＇ Prince of the Achaeans； among other praises which
writers have bestowed on him； is commended because in time of peace he
never had anything in his mind but the rules of war； and when he was in
the country with friends； he often stopped and reasoned with them： 〃If the
enemy should be upon that hill； and we should find ourselves here with
our army； with whom would be the advantage？ How should one best
advance to meet him； keeping the ranks？ If we should wish to retreat； how
ought we to pursue？〃 And he would set forth to them； as he went； all the
chances that could befall an army； he would listen to their opinion and
state his； confirming it with reasons； so that by these continual discussions
there could never arise； in time of war； any unexpected circumstances that
he could not deal with。
＇*＇ Philopoemen； 〃the last of the Greeks；〃 born 252 B。C。； died 183
B。C。
But to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories； and study
there the actions of illustrious men； to see how they have borne themselves
in war； to examine the causes of their victories and defeat； so as to avoid
the latter and imitate the former； and above all do as an illustrious man did；
who took as an exemplar one who had been praised and famous before
him； and whose achievements and deeds he always kept in his mind； as it
is said Alexander the Great imitated Achilles； Caesar Alexander； Scipio
Cyrus。 And whoever reads the life of Cyrus； written by Xenophon； will
recognize afterwards in the life of Scipio how that imitation was his glory；
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and how in chastity； affability； humanity； and liberality Scipio conformed
to those things which have been written of Cyrus by Xenophon。 A wise
prince ought to observe some such rules； and never in peaceful times stand
idle； but increase his resources with industry in such a way that they may
be available to him in adversity； so that if fortune chances it may find him
prepared to resist her blows。
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CHAPTER XV CONCERNING THINGS FOR WHICH MEN；
AND ESPECIALLY PRINCES； ARE PRAISED OR BLAMED
It remains now to see what ought to be the rules of conduct for a
prince towards subject and friends。 And as I know that many have written
on this point； I expect I shall be considered presumptuous in mentioning it
again； especially as in discussing it I shall depart from the methods of
other people。 But； it being my intention to write a thing which shall be
useful to him who apprehends it； it appears to me more appropriate to
follow up the real truth of the matter than the imagination of it； for many
have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been
known or seen； because how one lives is so far distant from how one
ought to live； that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done；
sooner effects his ruin than his preservation； for a man who wishes to act
entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him
among so much that is evil。
Hence it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know
how to do wrong； and to make use of it or not according to necessity。
Therefore； putting on one side imaginary things concerning a prince； and
discussing those which are real； I say that all men when they are spoken of；
and chiefly princes for being more highly placed； are remarkable for some
of those qualities which bring them either blame or praise； and thus it is
that one is reputed liberal； another miserly； using a Tuscan term （becau