A prince who wishes to maintain his power ought therefore to learn that he should not be always good, and must use that knowledge as circumstances and the exigencies of his own affairs may seem to require. Thus, a good man, and one who wishes to prove himself so in all respects, must be undone in a contest with so many who are evily disposed. For the manner in which men now live is so different from the manner in which they ought to live, that he who deviates from the common course of practice, and endeavors to act as duty dictates, necessarily ensures his own destruction. This matter having been already discussed by others, it may seem arrogant in me to pursue it farther, especially if I should differ in opinion from them but as I write only for those who possess sound judgment, I thought to better to treat this subject as it really is, in fact, than to amuse the imagination with visionary models of republics and governments which have never existed. It now remains to show in what manner a prince should behave to his subjects and friends.
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