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The Prince
defended by proper valour； as are Germany； Spain； and France； either this
invasion would not have made the great changes it has made or it would
not have come at all。 And this I consider enough to say concerning
resistance to fortune in general。
But confining myself more to the particular； I say that a prince may be
seen happy to…day and ruined to…morrow without having shown any
change of disposition or character。 This； I believe； arises firstly from
causes that have already been discussed at length； namely； that the prince
who relies entirely on fortune is lost when it changes。 I believe also that he
will be successful who directs his actions according to the spirit of the
times； and that he whose actions do not accord with the times will not be
successful。 Because men are seen； in affairs that lead to the end which
every man has before him； namely； glory and riches； to get there by
various methods； one with caution； another with haste； one by force；
another by skill； one by patience； another by its opposite； and each one
succeeds in reaching the goal by a different method。 One can also see of
two cautious men the one attain his end； the other fail； and similarly； two
men by different observances are equally successful； the one being
cautious； the other impetuous； all this arises from nothing else than
whether or not they conform in their methods to the spirit of the times。
This follows from what I have said； that two men working differently
bring about the same effect； and of two working similarly； one attains his
object and the other does not。
Changes in estate also issue from this； for if； to one who governs
himself with caution and patience； times and affairs converge in such a
way that his administration is successful； his fortune is made； but if times
and affairs change； he is ruined if he does not change his course of action。
But a man is not often found sufficiently circumspect to know how to
accommodate himself to the change； both because he cannot deviate from
what nature inclines him to do； and also because； having always prospered
by acting in one way； he cannot be persuaded that it is well to leave it； and；
therefore； the cautious man； when it is time to turn adventurous； does not
know how to do it； hence he is ruined； but had he changed his conduct
with the times fortune would not have changed。
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The Prince
Pope Julius the Second went to work impetuously in all his affairs； and
found the times and circumstances conform so well to that line of action
that he always met with success。 Consider his first enterprise against
Bologna； Messer Giovanni Bentivogli being still alive。 The Venetians were
not agreeable to it； nor was the King of Spain； and he had the enterprise
still under discussion with the King of France； nevertheless he personally
entered upon the expedition with his accustomed boldness and energy； a
move which made Spain and the Venetians stand irresolute and passive；
the latter from fear； the former from desire to recover the kingdom of
Naples； on the other hand； he drew after him the King of France； because
that king； having observed the movement； and desiring to make the Pope
his friend so as to humble the Venetians； found it impossible to refuse him。
Therefore Julius with his impetuous action accomplished what no other
pontiff with simple human wisdom could have done； for if he had waited
in Rome until he could get away； with his plans arranged and everything
fixed； as any other pontiff would have done； he would never have
succeeded。 Because the King of France would have made a thousand
excuses； and the others would have raised a thousand fears。
I will leave his other actions alone； as they were all alike； and they all
succeeded； for the shortness of his life did not let him experience the
contrary； but if circumstances had arisen which required him to go
cautiously； his ruin would have followed； because he would never have
deviated from those ways to which nature inclined him。
I conclude； therefore that； fortune being changeful and mankind
steadfast in their ways； so long as the two are in agreement men are
successful； but unsuccessful when they fall out。 For my part I consider that
it is better to be adventurous than cautious； because fortune is a woman；
and if you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill…use her；
and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurous
rather than by those who go to work more coldly。 She is； therefore； always；
woman…like； a lover of young men； because they are less cautious； more
violent； and with more audacity command her。
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CHAPTER XXVI
AN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE
BARBARIANS
Having carefully considered the subject of the above discourses； and
wondering within myself whether the present times were propitious to a
new prince； and whether there were elements that would give an
opportunity to a wise and virtuous one to introduce a new order of things
which would do honour to him and good to the people of this country； it
appears to me that so many things concur to favour a new prince that I
never knew a time more fit than the present。
And if； as I said； it was necessary that the people of Israel should be
captive so as to make manifest the ability of Moses； that the Persians
should be oppressed by the Medes so as to discover the greatness of the
soul of Cyrus； and that the Athenians should be dispersed to illustrate the
capabilities of Theseus： then at the present time； in order to discover the
virtue of an Italian spirit； it was necessary that Italy should be reduced to
the extremity that she is now in； that she should be more enslaved than the
Hebrews； more oppressed than the Persians； more scattered than t