the prince(王子)-第18节
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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 （because
an avaricious person in our language is still he who desires to possess by
robbery； whilst we call one miserly who deprives himself too much of the
use of his own）； one is reputed generous； one rapacious； one cruel； one
compassionate； one faithless； another faithful； one effeminate and
cowardly； another bold and brave； one affable； another haughty； one
lascivious； another chaste； one sincere； another cunning； one hard； another
easy； one grave； another frivolous； one religious； another unbelieving； and
the like。 And I know that every one will confess that it would be most
praiseworthy in a prince to exhibit all the above qualities that are
considered good； but because they can neither be entirely possessed nor
observed； for human conditions do not permit it； it is necessary for him to
be sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of
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those vices which would lose him his state； and also to keep himself； if it
be possible； from those which would not lose him it； but this not being
possible； he may with less hesitation abandon himself to them。 And again；
he need not make himself uneasy at incurring a reproach for those vices
without which the state can only be saved with difficulty； for if everything
is considered carefully； it will be found that something which looks like
virtue； if followed； would be his ruin； whilst something else； which looks
like vice； yet followed brings him security and prosperity。
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CHAPTER XVI
CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS
Commencing then with the first of the above…named characteristics； I
say that it would be well to be reputed liberal。 Nevertheless； liberality
exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it； injures you；
for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be exercised； it may not
become known； and you will not avoid the reproach of its opposite。
Therefore； any one wishing to maintain among men the name of liberal is
obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence； so that a prince thus
inclined will consume in such acts all his property； and will be compelled
in the end； if he wish to maintain the name of liberal； to unduly weigh
down his people； and tax them； and do everything he can to get money。
This will soon make him odious to his subjects； and becoming poor he will
be little valued by any one； thus； with his liberality； having offended many
and rewarded few； he is affected by the very first trouble and imperilled by
whatever may be the first danger； recognizing this himself； and wishing to
draw back from it； he runs at once into the reproach of being miserly。
Therefore； a prince； not being able to exercise this virtue of liberality
in such a way that it is recognized； except to his cost； if he is wise he
ought not to fear the reputation of being mean； for in time he will come to
be more considered than if liberal； seeing that with his economy his
revenues are enough； that he can defend himself against all attacks； and is
able to engage in enterprises without burdening his people； thus it comes
to pass that he exercises liberality towards all from whom he does not take；
who are numberless； and meanness towards those to whom he does not
give； who are few。
We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who
have been considered mean； the rest have failed。 Pope Julius the Second
was assisted in reaching the papacy by a reputation for liberality； yet he
did not strive afterwards to keep it up； when he made war on the King of
France； and he made many wars without imposing any extraordinary tax
on his subjects； for he supplied his additional expenses out of his long
thriftiness。 The present King of Spain would not have undertaken or
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conquered in so many enterprises if he had been reputed liberal。 A prince；
therefore； provided that he has not to rob his subjects； that he can defend
himself； that he does not become poor and abject； that he is not forced to
become rapacious； ought to hold of little account a reputation for being
mean； for it is one of those vices which will enable him to govern。
And if any one should say： Caesar obtained empire by liberality； and
many others have reached the highest positions by having been liberal； and
by being considered so； I answer： Either you are a prince in fact； or in a
way to become one。 In the first case this liberality is dangerous； in the
second it is very necessary to be considered liberal； and Caesar was one of
those who wished to become pre…eminent in Rome； but if he had survived
after becoming so； and had not moderated his expenses； he would have
destroyed his government。 And if any one should reply： Many have been
princes； and have done great things with armies； who have been
considered very liberal； I reply： Either a prince spends that which is his
own or his subjects' or else that of others。 In the first case he ought to be
sparing； in the second he ought not to neglect any opportunity for
liberality。 And to the prince who goes forth with his army； supporting it by
pillage； sack； and extortion； handling that which belongs to others； this
liberality is necessary； otherwise he would not be followed by soldiers。
And of that which is neither yours nor your subjects' you can be a ready
giver； as were Cyrus； Caesar； and Alexander； because it does not take
away your reputation if you squander that of others； but adds to it； it is
only squandering your own that injures you。
And there is nothing wastes so rapidly as liberality； for even whilst you
exercise it you lose the power to do so； and so become either poor or
despised； or else； in avoiding poverty； rapacious and hated。 And a prince
should guard himself； above all things； against being despised and hated；
and liberality leads you to both。 Therefore it is wiser to have a reputation
for meanness which brings reproach without hatred； than to be compelled
through seeking a reputation for liberality to incur a name for rapacity
which begets reproach with hatred。
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CHAPTER XVII
CONCERNING CRUELTY AND CLEMENCY； AND WHETHER
IT IS BETTER TO BE LOVED THAN FEARED
Coming now to the other qualities mentioned above； I say that every
prince ought to desire to be considered clement and not cruel。
Nevertheless he ought to take care not to misuse this clemency。 Cesare
Borgia was considered cruel； notwithstanding； his cruelty reconciled the
Romagna； unified it； and re
