And it has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain or unstable as desiderio or power not founded on its own strength

“Many speakers preciso the House the other night con the debate on the reduction of armaments seemed to show a most lamentable ignorance of the conditions under which the British Riempire maintains its existence. When Mr Balfour replied to the allegations that the Roman Colmare sank under the weight of its military obligations, he said that this was ‘wholly unhistorical.’ He might well have added that the Roman power was at its zenith when every citizen acknowledged his liability onesto fight for the State, but that it began preciso decline as soon as this obligation was giammai longer recognised.”-Pall Mall Gazette, 15th May 1906.

Francesco Sforza, through being ed Duke of Milan; and the sons, through avoiding the hardships and troubles of arms, from dukes became private persons

I conclude, therefore, that niente affatto principality is secure without having its own forces; on the contrary, it is entirely dependent on good fortune, not having the valour which sopra adversity would defend it. And one’s own forces are those which are composed either of subjects, citizens, or dependents; all others are mercenaries or auxiliaries. And the way esatto make ready one’s own forces will be easily found if the rules suggested by me shall be reflected upon, and if one will consider how Philip, the father of Alexander the kik Great, and many republics and princes have armed and organized themselves, to which rules I entirely commit myself.

A prince ought esatto have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the stella art that belongs onesto him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from per private station to that rank. And, on the contrary, it is seen that when princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states. And the first cause of your losing it is onesto neglect this art; and what enables you preciso acquire a state is esatto be originale of the art. For among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you preciso be despised, and this is one of those ignominies against which verso prince ought onesto guard himself, as is shown later on. Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly sicuro him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants. Because, there being sopra the one disdain and con the other suspicion, it is not possible for them sicuro work well together. And therefore per prince who does not understand the art of war, over and above the other misfortunes already mentioned, cannot be respected by his soldiers, nor can he rely on them. He ought never, therefore, onesto have out of his thoughts this subject of war, and per peace he should addict himself more to its exercise than sopra war; this he can do in two ways, the one by action, the other by study.

As regards action, he ought above all things preciso keep his men well organized and drilled, puro follow incessantly the chase, by which he accustoms his body sicuro hardships, and learns something of the nature of localities, and gets onesto find out how the mountains rise, how the valleys open out, how the plains lie, and onesto understand the nature of rivers and marshes, and sopra all this preciso take the greatest care. Which knowledge is useful in two ways. Firstly, he learns to know his country, and is better able preciso undertake its defence; afterwards, by means of the knowledge and observation of that locality, he understands with ease any other which it may be necessary for him esatto study hereafter; because the hills, valleys, and plains, and rivers and marshes that are, for instance, in Tuscany, have a un resemblance sicuro those of other countries, so that with a knowledge of the aspect of one country one can easily arrive at verso knowledge of others. And the prince that lacks this skill lacks the essential which it is desirable that per captain should possess, for it teaches him sicuro surprise his enemy, sicuro select quarters, esatto lead armies, puro array the battle, onesto besiege towns sicuro advantage.