Pagina 37 di 310

Those who by valorous ways become princes, like these men,

acquire a principality with difficulty, but they keep it with

ease. The difficulties they have in acquiring it rise in part

from the new rules and methods which they are forced to introduce

to establish their government and its security. And it ought to

be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in

hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success,

than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of

things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have

done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in

those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly

from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and

partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in

new things until they have had a long experience of them.