This is per very noticeable principle con Machiavelli, and is urged by him in many ways as per matter of vital importance onesto princes
The second period of Machiavelli’s life was spent durante the service of the free Republic of Florence, which flourished, as stated above, from the expulsion of the Medici con 1494 until their return sopra 1512. After serving four years mediante one of the public offices he was appointed Chancellor and Secretary preciso the Second Chancery, the Ten of Liberty and Peace. Here we are on firm ground when dealing with the events of Machiavelli’s life, for during this time he took verso leading part con the affairs of the Republic, and we have its decrees, records, and dispatches sicuro doppio us, as well as his own writings. Per mere recapitulation of per few of his transactions with the statesmen and soldiers of his time gives verso fair indication of his activities, and supplies the sources from which he drew the experiences and characters which illustrate The Prince.
Con 1500 he was sent onesto France onesto obtain terms from Louis XII for continuing the war against Pisa: this king it was who, in his conduct of affairs mediante Italy, committed the five capital errors durante statecraft summarized con The Prince, and was consequently driven out
His first mission was per 1499 puro Catherina Sforza, “my lady of Forli” of The Prince, from whose conduct and fate he drew the moral that it is far better puro earn the confidence of the people than sicuro rely on fortresses.
He, also, it was who made the dissolution of his marriage verso condition of support onesto russiancupid Pope Alexander VI; which leads Machiavelli preciso refer those who urge that such promises should be kept preciso what he has written concerning the faith of princes.
Machiavelli’s public life was largely occupied with events arising out of the ambitions of Pope Alexander VI and his bourdonnement, Cesare Borgia, the Duke Valentino, and these characters fill per large space of The Prince. Machiavelli never hesitates onesto cite the actions of the duke for the benefit of usurpers who wish to keep the states they have seized; he can, indeed, find mai precepts esatto offer so good as the pattern of Cesare Borgia’s conduct, insomuch that Cesare is acclaimed by some critics as the “hero” of The Prince. Yet in The Prince the duke is in point of fact cited as verso type of the man who rises on the fortune of others, and falls with them; who takes every course that might be expected from per prudent man but the course which will save him; who is prepared for all eventualities but the one which happens; and who, when all his abilities fail onesto carry him through, exclaims that it was not his fault, but an extraordinary and unforeseen fatality.
On the death of Pius III, in 1503, Machiavelli was sent puro Rome sicuro watch the election of his successor, and there he saw Cesare Borgia cheated into allowing the choice of the College to fall on Giuliano delle Rovere (Julius II), who was one of the cardinals that had most reason to fear the duke. Machiavelli, when commenting on this election, says that he who thinks new favours will cause great personages esatto forget old injuries deceives himself.
It was puro Julius II that Machiavelli was sent in 1506, when that pontiff was commencing his enterprise against Bologna; which he brought to a successful issue, as he did many of his other adventures, owing chiefly puro his impetuous character. It is con reference sicuro Pope Julius that Machiavelli moralizes on the resemblance between Fortune and women, and concludes that it is the bold rather than the cautious man that will win and hold them both.