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＇*＇ 〃Contrary to fidelity〃 or 〃faith；〃 〃contro alla fede；〃 and 〃tutto
fede；〃 〃altogether faithful；〃 in the next paragraph。 It is noteworthy that
these two phrases； 〃contro alla fede〃 and 〃tutto fede；〃 were omitted in the
Testina edition； which was published with the sanction of the papal
authorities。 It may be that the meaning attached to the word 〃fede〃 was
〃the faith；〃 i。e。 the Catholic creed； and not as rendered here 〃fidelity〃 and
〃faithful。〃 Observe that the word 〃religione〃 was suffered to stand in the
text of the Testina； being used to signify indifferently every shade of belief；
as witness 〃the religion；〃 a phrase inevitably employed to designate the
Huguenot heresy。 South in his Sermon IX； p。 69； ed。 1843； comments on
this passage as follows： 〃That great patron and Coryphaeus of this tribe；
Nicolo Machiavel； laid down this for a master rule in his political scheme：
'That the show of religion was helpful to the politician； but the reality of it
hurtful and pernicious。'〃
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 come 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 comes 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＇*＇ 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
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The Prince
hostile； and either； if he had kept it； would have deprived him of reputation
and kingdom many a time。
＇*＇ Ferdinand of Aragon。 〃When Machiavelli was writing 'The Prince'
it would have been clearly impossible to mention Ferdinand's name here
without giving offence。〃 Burd's 〃Il Principe；〃 p。 308。
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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 their honor
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。
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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
accomplish； 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
companion 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 advan