A prince ought to avoid those things that would make others hate him or hold him in contempt. He will cause his subjects to hate him if he is greedy and seizes their property or their women. He will create contempt if he is seen as fickle, effeminate, cowardly, frivolous, or irresolute. These qualities will cause him to lose his power. On the other hand, a prince who is decisive, bold, grave, and strong will be highly esteemed. He is unlikely to be attacked from within or without. Attack becomes less likely if he has reliable troops and reliable allies. He will have reliable allies and peace at home if he has reliable troops.
When there is peace outside the principality, a prince must worry about conspiracy inside it. He can avoid conspiracies if.....
