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thereby pacify, a people. Religion is the most important means
to achieve this goal. Therefore Machiavelli places a high pre
mium on religion in the state. The use of religion as a part of
public policy is absolutely necessary to maintain a stable com
munity.
- Act decisively. It is much better to make a mistake than to
hesitate. Of course, in most cases, to act without hesitation is
probably the best way to avoid making the mistake. In war, for
example, if you have the advantage and you hesitate, the battle
can be lost. Not attacking because the opposition is better
prepared, or in a better strategic position, is not hesitation, but
simply good planning. Once the plan is settled and the decision
made, do it.
- Maintain a strong army. In order to use force ruthlessly and
act decisively, a large standing army is necessary. Machiavelli is
opposed to the use of mercenary armies and gives several
reasons why they are undependable and therefore useless to his
prince. A large citizen army is the best, if not the only, way to
insure power of the prince and the safety of the state. No doubt
the concept of the citizen-soldier as it existed in the Roman
Republic became the pattern for his thinking about this issue.
A prince must also have certain qualities and be able to put
those qualities into action. He must be both a “lion and a fox,”
cunning enough to recognize the traps and strong enough to
frighten off those snapping at his heels. Both qualities are
required. Brute strength is not enough. Where brute strength
fails, cunning will generally succeed. The prince must also
present himself as a highly moral person. He must have a “public
and private morality.” In his private life the traditional values
that the average citizen must conform to are encouraged— being
a good husband and father, living according to the laws of
convention, church, and state. When it comes to the public good,
however, the only morality is the morality of political pragma
tism. Whatever works to benefit the state is good; whatever
works to subvert the state is bad.
If, however, a prince must choose one of two courses, being
feared or being loved by his subjects, he should choose the
former. Love, says Machiavelli, is a fickle emotion, and can
easily change. Fear, on the other hand, is a constant— those who
fear, act on the basis of that fear, for their own well-being. Love
