Because this is to be asserted in general of men； thatthey are ungrateful； fickle； false； cowardly； covetous； and as long asyou succeed they are yours entirely； they will offer you their blood；property； life and children； as is said above； when the need is fardistant； but when it approaches they turn against you。 And that princewho； relying entirely on their promises； has neglected otherprecautions； is ruined； because friendships that are obtained bypayments； and not by greatness or nobility of mind； may indeed beearned； but they are not secured； and in time of need cannot be reliedupon； and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than onewho is feared； for love is preserved by the link of obligation which；owing to the baseness of men； is broken at every opportunity for theiradvantage； but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which neverfails。Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that； if hedoes not win love； he avoids hatred； because he can endure very wellbeing feared whilst he is not hated； which will always be as long as heabstains from the property of his citizens and subjects and from theirwomen。 But when it is necessary for him to proceed against the life ofsomeone； 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 lossof their patrimony。 Besides； pretexts for taking away the property arenever wanting； for he who has once begun to live by robbery will alwaysfind pretexts for seizing what belongs to others； but reasons for takinglife； on the contrary； are more difficult to find and sooner lapse。 Butwhen a prince is with his army； and has under control a multitude ofsoldiers
本章未完，點選下一頁繼續閱讀。
