The Prince

In the final section of The Prince, Machiavelli turns his attention to his homeland and its current situation. He remarks that if a new prince carefully observes all of his recommendations, the prince will rule securely, as if he had been long seated there. According to Machiavelli, the actions of a new prince are more narrowly observed than those of a hereditary ruler. Therefore, when the new prince is seen to be able “they gain more men and bind far tighter than ancient blood; because men are attracted more by the present than by the past, and when they find the present good they enjoy it and seek no further” (95). Just as it will be doubly glorious for a new prince to succeed through good laws, good arms, and good allies, it will be a doubly disgraceful if a hereditary prince loses his state “by want of wisdom” (95).

Machiavelli points out that some modern Italian rulers, namely the King of Naples and Duke of Milan among others, lost their states due to common defects. These defects concern arms and military matters, the hostility of the people, or a failure to secure the nobles when the people were friendly toward them.