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a greater necessity to earn renown than an hereditary one； causes
enemies to arise and form designs against him； in order that he may have
the opportunity of overing them； and by them to mount higher； as by a
ladder which his enemies have raised。 For this reason many consider that
a wise prince； when he has the opportunity； ought with craft to foster
some animosity against himself； so that； having crushed it； his renown
may rise higher。
5。 Princes； especially new ones； have found more fidelity and assistance
in those men who in the beginning of their rule were distrusted than
among those who in the beginning were trusted。 Pandolfo Petrucci； Prince
of Siena； ruled his state more by those who had been distrusted than by
others。 But on this question one cannot speak generally； for it varies
so much with the individual； I will only say this； that those men who at
the mencement of a princedom have been hostile； if they are of a
description to need assistance to support themselves； can always be
gained over with the greatest ease； and they will be tightly held to
serve the prince with fidelity； inasmuch as they know it to be very
necessary for them to cancel by deeds the bad impression which he had
formed of them； and thus the prince always extracts more profit from
them than from those who； serving him in too much security； may neglect
his affairs。 And since the matter demands it； I must not fail to warn a
prince； who by means of secret favours has acquired a new state； that he
must well consider the reasons which induced those to favour him who did
so； and if it be not a natural affection towards him； but only
discontent with their government； then he will only keep them friendly
with great trouble and difficulty； for it will be impossible to satisfy
them。 And weighing well the reasons for this in those examples which can
be taken from ancient and modern affairs； we shall find that it is
easier for the prince to make friends of those men who were contented
under the former government； and are therefore his enemies； than of
those who； being discontented with it； were favourable to him and
encouraged him to seize it。
6。 It has been a custom with princes； in order to hold their states more
securely； to build fortresses that may serve as a bridle and bit to
those who might design to work against them； and as a place of refuge
from a first attack。 I praise this system because it has been made use
of formerly。 Notwithstanding that； Messer Nicolo Vitelli in our times
has been seen to demolish two fortresses in Citta di Castello so that he
might keep that state； Guidubaldo； Duke of Urbino； on returning to his
dominion； whence he had been driven by Cesare Borgia； razed to the
foundations all the fortresses in that province； and considered that
without them it would be more difficult to lose it； the Bentivoglio
returning to Bologna came to a similar decision。 Fortresses； therefore；
are useful or not according to circumstances； if they do you good in one
way they injure you in another。 And this question can be reasoned thus：
the prince who has more to fear from the people than from foreigners
ought to build fortresses； but he who has more to fear from foreigners
than from the people ought to leave them alone。 The castle of Milan；
built by Francesco Sforza； has made； and will make； more trouble for the
house of Sforza than any other disorder in the state。 For this reason
the best possible fortress is not to be hated by the people； because；
although you may hold the fortresses； yet they will not save you if the
people hate you； for there will never be wanting foreigners to assist a
people who have taken arms against you。 It has not been seen in our
times that such fortresses have been of use to any prince； unless to the
Countess of Forli； when the Count Girolamo； her consort； was killed； for
by that means she was able to withstand the popular attack and wait for
assistance from Milan； and thus recover her state； and the posture of
affairs was such at that time that the foreigners could not assist the
people。 But fortresses were of little value to her afterwards when
Cesare Borgia attacked her； and when the people； her enemy； were allied
with foreigners。 Therefore it would have been safer for her； both then
and before； not to have been hated by the people than to have had the
fortresses。 All these things considered then； I shall praise him who
builds fortresses as well as him who does not； and I shall blame
whoever； trusting in them； cares little about being hated by the people。
CHAPTER XXI
HOW A PRINCE SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF SO AS TO GAIN RENOWN
NOTHING makes a prince so much esteemed as great enterprises and setting
a fine example。 We have in our time Ferdinand of Aragon； the present
King of Spain。 He can almost be called a new prince； because he has
risen； by fame and glory； from being an insignificant king to be the
foremost king in Christendom； and if you will consider his deeds you
will find them all great and some of them extraordinary。 In the
beginning of his reign he attacked Granada； and this enterprise was the
foundation of his dominions。 He did this quietly at first and without
any fear of hindrance； for he held the minds of the barons of Castile
occupied in thinking of the war and not anticipating any innovations；
thus they did not perceive that by these means he was acquiring power
and authority over them。 He was able with the money of the Church and of
the people to sustain his armies； and by that long war to lay the
foundation for the military skill which has since distinguished him。
Further； always using religion as a plea； so as to undertake greater
schemes； he devoted himself with a pious cruelty to driving out and
clearing his kingdom of the Moors； nor could there be a more admirable
example； nor one more rare。 Under this same cloak he assailed Africa； he
came down on Italy； he has finally attacked France； and thus his
achievements and designs have always been great； and have kept the minds
of his people in suspense and admiration and occupied with the issue of
them。 And his actions have arisen in such a way； one out of the other；
that men have never been given time to work steadily against him。
Again； it much assists a prince to set unusual examples in internal
affairs； similar to those which are related of Messer Bernabo da Milano；
who； when he had the opportunity； by any one in civil life doing some
extraordinary thing； either good or bad； would take some method of
rewarding or punishing him； which would be much spoken about。 And a
prince ought； above all things； always to endeavour in every action to
gain for himself the reputation of being a great and remarkable man。
A prince is also respected when he is either a true friend or a
downright enemy； that to say； when； without any reservation； he declares
himself in favour of one party against the other； which course will
always be more advantageous