Introduction

The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli to the Magnificent Lorenzo de' Medici

I The Kinds of Principalities and the Means by Which They Are Acquired

II Hereditary Principalities

III Mixed Principalities

IV Why Alexander's Successors Were Able to Keep Possession of Darius' Kingdom after Alexander's Death

V How to Govern Cities and Principalities That, Prior to Being Occupied, Lived Under Their Own Laws

VI Concerning New Principalities Acquired by One's Own Arms and Ability

VII Concerning New Principalities Acquired with the Arms and Fortunes of Others

VIII Concerning Those Who Become Princes by Evil Means

IX Concerning the Civil Principality

X How the Strength of All Principalities Should Be Measured

XI Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities

XII Concerning Various Kinds of Troops, and Especially Mercenaries

XIII Concerning Auxiliary, Mixed, and Native Forces

XIV A Prince's Concern in Military Matters

XV Concerning Things for Which Men, and Princes Especially, Are Praised or Censured

XVI Concerning Liberality and Parsimony

XVII Concerning Cruelty: Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than to Be Feared, or the Reverse

XVIII In What Way Princes Should Keep Their Word

XIX How to Avoid Contempt and Hatred

XX Whether Fortresses and Many Other Expedients That Princes Commonly Employ Are Useful or Not

XXI What a Prince Must Do to Be Esteemed

XXII Concerning the Prince's Ministers

XXIII How to Avoid Flatterers

XXIV Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States

XXV Concerning the Influence of Fortune in Human Affairs, and the Manner in Which It Is to Be Resisted

XXVI An Exhortation to Free Italy from the Hands of the Barbarians

Discourses Upon the First Ten Books of Titus Livy BOOK ONE

II Of the Various Kinds of States and of What Kind the Roman Republic Was

III The Events That Led to the Creation of the Tribunes of the Plebs, by Which the Roman Republic Became More Perfect

IV That the Disorders Between the Plebs and the Senate Made the Roman Republic Strong and Free

X Founders of Republics and Kingdoms Are As Much to Be Praised As Founders of Tyrannies Are to Be Censured

XI On the Religion of the Romans

XII The Importance with Which Religion Must Be Regarded and How Italy, Lacking It, Thanks to the Church of Rome, Has Been Ruined

LVIII The Multitude Is Wiser and More Constant Than a Prince

BOOK TWO

II The People the Romans Had to Fight, and How Obstinately They Defended Their Freedom

BOOK THREE

XXI How It Happened That Hannibal Gained the Same Results in Italy As Scipio Did in Spain by Contrary Means

XLI That One's Country Ought to Be Defended, Whether with Shame or Glory, by Whatever Means Possible

Chronology

Notes to The Prince

Notes to The Discourses

Selected Bibliography