Hence it is that all armed
prophets have conquered, and the
unarmed ones have been destroyed.
by Nicolo Machiavelli
Written c. 1505
Translated by W. K. Marriott
Dr. Rubel Shelly, leader of a modern Jubilee
movement designed to change the old order and originate a new
form of the church, appeals to Machiavelli to explain why change
agents have less trouble taking over principalities and powers than
in keeping them.
CHAPTER VI
Concerning New Principalities Which Are
Acquired By One's Own Arms And
Ability
LET no one be surprised if, in
speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the
highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking
almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation
their deeds,
are yet unable
to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of
those they imitate.
A wise man ought always to
follow the paths beaten
by great men, and to
imitate those who have been supreme, so that if
his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it. Let
him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which
yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the
strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark,
not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to
be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to
reach.
"I say, therefore,
that in entirely
new
principalities,
where there is a new
prince, more or less
difficulty is found in
keeping them,
accordingly as there is more or less ability in him who has acquired the
state. Now, as the fact
of becoming a prince
from a private station presupposes either ability or fortune, it is
clear that one or other of these two things will mitigate in some
degree many difficulties. Nevertheless, he who has relied least on
fortune is established the strongest.
Further, it facilitates matters when the prince, having no other state,
is compelled to reside there in person.
But to come to those who, by
their own ability and not through fortune, have risen to be princes,
I say that Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and such like are the most
excellent examples. And although one may not discuss Moses, he having
been a mere executor of the will of God, yet he ought to be admired,
if only for that favour which made him worthy to speak with
God.
But in considering Cyrus and others who have acquired or founded kingdoms,
all will be found admirable; and if their particular deeds and
conduct shall be considered, they will not be found inferior to those
of Moses, although he
had so great a preceptor. And in examining their actions and lives one cannot
see that they owed anything to fortune beyond opportunity, which
brought them the material to mould into the form which seemed best to
them. Without that opportunity their powers of mind would have been
extinguished, and without those powers the opportunity would have
come in vain.
It was
necessary that Romulus should not remain in Alba, and that he should
be abandoned at his birth, in order that he should become King of Rome and founder of the fatherland.
It was necessary that Cyrus
should find the Persians discontented with the government of the
Medes, and the Medes soft and effeminate through their long peace.
Theseus could not have shown his ability had he not found the
Athenians dispersed. These opportunities, therefore, made those men
fortunate, and their high ability enabled them to recognize the
opportunity whereby
their country was ennobled and made famous
Those who
by valorous ways become
princes, like these
men, acquire a principality with difficulty, but they it with ease
(Those who recognize the
opportunity)
The difficulties they have in
acquiring it arise in part from
the new rules and methods
which they are forced to
introduce to establish
their government and its security.
And it ought to be remembered
that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous
to conduct, or more uncertain in its success,
than to take the lead in
the introduction of a new order of things.
........
Because the innovator has
for enemies
........ all those who have done well under the old
conditions,
........ and in those who may do well under the
new.
This coolness arises partly
from
fear of the opponents, who
have the laws on their side, and
partly from the
incredulity of men,
who do not readily
believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them. (i.e. test the spirits)
See Mein Kampf
Thus it happens that whenever
those
who are
hostile
have the
opportunity to attack
........they do it like partisans,
whilst the others defend
lukewarmly,
........ in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.
It is necessary, therefore, if
we desire to discuss this matter thoroughly, to inquire
whether these
innovators can rely on themselves
........ or have to depend on others: that is to
say,
whether, to consummate their
enterprise,
........ have they to use prayers
........ or can they use force?
In the first instance (prayers)
they always succeed badly, and never compass anything;
but when they can
rely on themselves and
use
force,
then they are rarely
endangered.
Hence it is that all
armed
prophets have
conquered, and the unarmed ones have been destroyed.
Besides the reasons mentioned,
the nature of the people
is variable, and
whilst it is
easy to persuade
them,
........ it is difficult to fix them in that persuasion.
And thus it is necessary to
take such measures that, when they believe no longer,
........ It may be possible to make them believe
by force.
Fra Girolamo Savonarola, ...
was ruined with his new
order of things
immediately the
multitude believed in
him no longer,
and he had no means
of keeping steadfast those who believed or of making the unbelievers
to believe.
Therefore such as these have
great difficulties in consummating their enterprise, for all their
dangers are in the ascent,
yet
with ability they will overcome them;
but when these are overcome,
and those who
envied them their success are exterminated,
they will begin
to be respected, and
they will continue afterwards powerful, secure, honoured, and
happy.
To these great examples I wish
to add a lesser one; still it bears some resemblance to them, and I
wish it to suffice me for all of a like kind: it is Hiero the Syracusan. This man rose from a private station
to be Prince of Syracuse, nor did he, either, owe anything to fortune
but
opportunity; for the
Syracusans, being oppressed, chose him for their captain, afterwards
he was rewarded by being made their prince.
He was of so great ability,
even as a private citizen, that one who writes of him says he
wanted nothing but a
kingdom to be a king.
- This man abolished the old
soldiery,
- organized the new,
- gave up old alliances,
- made new ones;
and as he had his own
soldiers and allies, on such foundations he was able to build any
edifice: thus, whilst
he had endured much trouble in acquiring, he had but little in keeping.
James Madison wrote that: national shepherding network,
"There are
two methods of curing the mischiefs of
faction: the one, by removing its causes; the
other, controlling its effects.
"Again, there are two methods
of removing the cause of faction: the one,
by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence;
the other, by giving to every citizen the same
opinions, the same
passions, and the same interests.
"It could never be more truly
said that of the first
remedy that it was
worse than the disease. Liberty
is to faction
what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires.
But it could not be a less
folly to abolish
liberty, which is
essential to political life, because it nourishes faction than it would be to wish the annihilation of
air, which is essential to animal life,
because it imports to fire its destructive agency.
"The second expedient is as
impracticable as the first would be unwise. As long as the reason of
man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it,
different opinions will be formed." (James Madison, Number Ten, The Federalist Papers)
Rubel
Shelly Sermon Reviews
Home
Page
Counter added 6.18.05 8:42a
