Prima Pars: L’un Globo – A Dialogue
Niccolo: You wish to take this state?
Capolio: We will take out the evil tyrant, and install a friendly regime. This will be a lesson to others who may threaten us. Afterall, the people of the state love freedom, and by bringing them freedom they will love us, so long as we do all we can to avoid bringing them undue harm.
Debolio: But there is no reason to take this state. We could isolate them. Make them weak. They are no harm to us. Eventually we could entice them out of isolation, through a series of promises and agreements, for in their weakness they will become poor, and through agreements with us, they may become rich. What in your opinion must we do?
Niccolo: In seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily; and thus by not unsettling men he will be able to reassure them, and win them to himself by benefits. He who does otherwise, either from timidity or evil advice, is always compelled to keep the knife in his hand.
Debolio: By showing restraint, offering things of value to those who would disturb our peace, we will gain influence and respect. We cannot rule through fear alone. This violates our own most sacredly held beliefs, and it is the foundation of our laws and trade. Were we to sacrifice that, we would have nothing left.
Capolio: I agree Debolio. We are known as a gentle paese. A place where liberty and equality before the law can be found. To sacrifice such a value would be the ruin of our moral superiority, the blessings of the generations to precede us.
Niccolo: It appears to me more appropriate to follow up the real truth of a matter than the imagination of it; for many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.
Capolio: We will take out the evil tyrant, and install a friendly regime. This will be a lesson to others who may threaten us. Afterall, the people of the state love freedom, and by bringing them freedom they will love us, so long as we do all we can to avoid bringing them undue harm.
Debolio: But there is no reason to take this state. We could isolate them. Make them weak. They are no harm to us. Eventually we could entice them out of isolation, through a series of promises and agreements, for in their weakness they will become poor, and through agreements with us, they may become rich. What in your opinion must we do?
Niccolo: In seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily; and thus by not unsettling men he will be able to reassure them, and win them to himself by benefits. He who does otherwise, either from timidity or evil advice, is always compelled to keep the knife in his hand.
Debolio: By showing restraint, offering things of value to those who would disturb our peace, we will gain influence and respect. We cannot rule through fear alone. This violates our own most sacredly held beliefs, and it is the foundation of our laws and trade. Were we to sacrifice that, we would have nothing left.
Capolio: I agree Debolio. We are known as a gentle paese. A place where liberty and equality before the law can be found. To sacrifice such a value would be the ruin of our moral superiority, the blessings of the generations to precede us.
Niccolo: It appears to me more appropriate to follow up the real truth of a matter than the imagination of it; for many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.
posted by Federalist X at 9:33 PM
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