The problem is that most translations and editions of 'The Prince' are heavily cut and paraphrase all over the place. Who, being discontented with it, were favourable to him and encouraged This has been variously attributed to Sun Tzu, Niccol Machiavelli, or Petrarch.

The former government, and are therefore his enemies, than of those Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II (1974).

Taken from ancient and modern affairs, we shall find that it is easierįor the prince to make friends of those men who were contented under Weighing well the reasons for this in those examples which can be Government, then he will only keep them friendly with great troubleĪnd difficulty, for it will be impossible to satisfy them. Not a natural affection towards him, but only discontent with their The reasons which induced those to favour him who did so and if it be Of secret favours has acquired a new state, that he must well consider The matter demands it, I must not fail to warn a prince, who by means Serving him in too much security, may neglect his affairs. Prince always extracts more profit from them than from those who, Inasmuch as they know it to be very necessary for them to cancel byĭeeds the bad impression which he had formed of them and thus the Support themselves, can always be gained over with the greatest ease,Īnd they will be tightly held to serve the prince with fidelity, Have been hostile, if they are of a description to need assistance to Only say this, that those men who at the commencement of a princedom Speak generally, for it varies so much with the individual I will Pandolfo Petrucci, Prince of Siena, ruled his state more by those who Princes, especially new ones, have found more fidelity andĪssistance in those men who in the beginning of their rule wereĭistrusted than among those who in the beginning were trusted. Here's how the Gutenberg edition translated (and cut heavily) that section:ĥ. The new Prince must strive to hold close his allies, but it is of more importance to hold close his enemies. The direct translation would yield a line like: It's not a direct quote from the english translation though, it's a paraphrase of a translation of a direct quote from the original.

Keep your enemies closer quote