keeps himself upright and honest. But how a Prince
may throughly understand his servant, here is the
way that never fails. When thou seest the servant
study more for his own advantage than thine, and that
in all his actions, he searches most after his own
profit; this man thus qualified, shall never prove
good servant, nor canst thou ever relie upon him:
for he that holds the Sterne of the State in hand,
ought never call home his cares to his own particular,
but give himself wholly over to his Princes service,
nor ever put him in minde of any thing not appertaining
to him. And on the other side the Prince to keep
him good to him, ought to take a care for his servant,
honoring him, enriching, and obliging him to him, giving
him part both of dignities and offices, to the end
that the many honors and much wealth bestowed on him,
may restrain his desires from other honors, and other
wealth, and that those many charges cause him to fear
changes that may fall, knowing he is not able to stand
without his master. And when both the Princes
and the servants are thus disposed, they may rely
the one upon the other: when otherwise, the end
will ever prove hurtfull for the one as well as for
the other.
CHAP. XXIII
That Flatterers are to be avoyded.
I will not omit one principle of great inportance,
being an errour from which Princes with much difficulty
defend themselves, unlesse they be very discreet,
and make a very good choice; and this is concerning
flatterers; whereof all writings are full: and
that because men please themselves so much in their
own things, and therein cozen themselves, that very
hardly can they escape this pestilence; and desiring
to escape it, there is danger of falling into contempt;
for there is no other way to be secure from flattery,
but to let men know, that they displease thee not
in telling thee truth: but when every one hath
this leave, thou losest thy reverence. Therefore
ought a wise Prince take a third course, making choyce
of some understanding men in his State, and give only
to them a free liberty of speaking to him the truth;
and touching those things only which he inquires of,
and nothing else; but he ought to be inquisitive of
every thing, and hear their opinions, and then afterwards
advise himself after his own manner; and in these deliberations,
and with every one of them so carrie himself, that
they all know, that the more freely they shall speak,
the better they shall be liked of: and besides
those, not give eare to any one; and thus pursue the
thing resolved on, and thence continue obstinate in
the resolution taken. He who does otherwise,
either falls upon flatterers, or often changes upon
the varying of opinions, from whence proceeds it that
men conceive but slightly of him. To this purpose
I will alledge you a moderne example. Peter Lucas
a servant of Maximilians the present Emperor, speaking
of his Majesty, said that he never advised with any
Copyrights
Machiavelli, Volume I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
