The latter hath no upbraiders, but was raised by them
that sought to be defended from oppression: whose end is both
easier and the honester to satisfy. Beside, while he hath the
people to friend, who are a multitude, he hath the less fear of the
nobility, who are but few. Nor let the common proverb (of he that
builds on the people builds on the dirt) discredit my opinion: for
that hath only place where an ambitious and private person, for some
popular end, trusts in them against the public justice and
magistrate. There they will leave him. But when a prince governs
them, so as they have still need of his administrations (for that is
his art), he shall ever make and hold them faithful.
Clementia.--Machiavell.--A prince should exercise his cruelty not by
himself but by his ministers; so he may save himself and his dignity
with his people by sacrificing those when he list, saith the great
doctor of state, Machiavell. But I say he puts off man and goes
into a beast, that is cruel. No virtue is a prince's own, or
becomes him more, than this clemency: and no glory is greater than
to be able to save with his power.
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