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A wise prince ought to observe some such rules, and never in

peaceful times stand idle, but increase his resources with

industry in such a way that they may be available to him in

adversity, so that if fortune chances it may find him prepared to

resist her blows.

CHAPTER XV. CONCERNING THINGS FOR WHICH MEN, AND ESPECIALLY

PRINCES, ARE PRAISED OR BLAMED

It remains now to see what ought to be the rules of conduct for a

prince towards subject and friends. And as I know that many have

written on this point, I expect I shall be considered

presumptuous in mentioning it again, especially as in discussing

it I shall depart from the methods of other people. But, it being

my intention to write a thing which shall be useful to him who

apprehends it, it appears to me more appropriate to follow up the

real truth of the matter than the imagination of it; for many

have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have

never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant

from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for

what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his

preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his

professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so

much that is evil.