The Prince

Unabridged version of THE PRINCE, by Niccolo Machiavelli and translated by N. H. Thomson, offered here for chump change.

From 1513, THE PRINCE is divided into chapters covering ruling power, be it in the office or across continents. Topics include power forms (mixed, heredity), power acquisition (with help, through criminal acts), and power aspects (bearing, flatters, secretaries).

Read it. Learn from it. Use it.

Contents

DEDICATION 3

CHAPTER I: OF THE VARIOUS KINDS OF PRINCEDOM, AND OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY ARE ACQUIRED 3

CHAPTER II: OF HEREDITARY PRINCEDOMS 3

CHAPTER III: OF MIXED PRINCEDOMS 4

CHAPTER IV: WHY THE KINGDOM OF DARIUS, CONQUERED BY ALEXANDER, DID NOT, ON ALEXANDER’S DEATH, REBEL AGAINST HIS SUCCESSORS 7

CHAPTER V: HOW CITIES OR PROVINCES WHICH BEFORE THEIR ACQUISITION HAVE LIVED UNDER THEIR OWN LAWS ARE TO BE GOVERNED 8

CHAPTER VI: OF NEW PRINCEDOMS WHICH A PRINCE ACQUIRES WITH HIS OWN ARMS AND BY MERIT 9

CHAPTER VII: OF NEW PRINCEDOMS ACQUIRED BY THE AID OF OTHERS AND BY GOOD FORTUNE 11

CHAPTER VIII: OF THOSE WHO BY THEIR CRIMES COME TO BE PRINCES 14

CHAPTER IX: OF THE CIVIL PRINCEDOM 16

CHAPTER X: HOW THE STRENGTH OF ALL PRINCEDOMS SHOULD BE MEASURED 17

CHAPTER XI: OF ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCEDOMS 18

CHAPTER XII: HOW MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOLDIERS THERE ARE, AND OF MERCENARIES 19

CHAPTER XIII: OF AUXILIARY, MIXED, AND NATIONAL ARMS 21

CHAPTER XIV: OF THE DUTY OF A PRINCE IN RESPECT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS 23

CHAPTER XV: OF THE QUALITIES IN RESPECT OF WHICH MEN, AND MOST OF ALL PRINCES, ARE PRAISED OR BLAMED 24

CHAPTER XVI: OF LIBERALITY AND MISERLINESS 25

CHAPTER XVII: OF CRUELTY AND CLEMENCY, AND WHETHER IT IS BETTER TO BE LOVED OR FEARED 26

CHAPTER XVIII: HOW PRINCES SHOULD KEEP FAITH 27

CHAPTER XIX: THAT A PRINCE SHOULD SEEK TO ESCAPE CONTEMPT AND HATRED 28

CHAPTER XX: WHETHER FORTRESSES, AND CERTAIN OTHER EXPEDIENTS TO WHICH PRINCES OFTEN HAVE RECOURSE, ARE PROFITABLE OR HURTFUL 33

CHAPTER XXI: HOW A PRINCE SHOULD BEAR HIMSELF SO AS TO ACQUIRE REPUTATION 35

CHAPTER XXII: OF THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES 36

CHAPTER XXIII: THAT FLATTERERS SHOULD BE SHUNNED 37

CHAPTER XXIV: WHY THE PRINCES OF ITALY HAVE LOST THEIR STATES 38

CHAPTER XXV: WHAT FORTUNE CAN EFFECT IN HUMAN AFFAIRS, AND HOW SHE MAY BE WITHSTOOD 38

CHAPTER XXVI: AN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE BARBARIANS 40