Key Arguments

• Selecting 'certain discreet men' concentrates candid advice while limiting broader disrespect.
• The prince should solicit opinions on all matters but retain final judgment to avoid capture.
• By making counselors know that freer speech increases favor, he incentivizes truthfulness.
• Excluding other voices and sticking to chosen courses prevents manipulation and wavering.

Source Quotes

For there is no way to guard against flattery but by letting it be seen that you take no offense in hearing the truth: but when every one is free to tell you the truth respect falls short. Wherefore a prudent Prince should follow a middle course, by choosing certain discreet men from among his subjects, and allowing them alone free leave to speak their minds on any matter on which he asks their opinion, and on none other. But he ought to ask their opinion on everything, and after hearing what they have to say, should reflect and judge for himself.

Wherefore a prudent Prince should follow a middle course, by choosing certain discreet men from among his subjects, and allowing them alone free leave to speak their minds on any matter on which he asks their opinion, and on none other. But he ought to ask their opinion on everything, and after hearing what they have to say, should reflect and judge for himself. And with these counsellors collectively, and with each of them separately, his bearing should be such, that each and all of them may know that the more freely they declare their thoughts the better they will be liked.

But he ought to ask their opinion on everything, and after hearing what they have to say, should reflect and judge for himself. And with these counsellors collectively, and with each of them separately, his bearing should be such, that each and all of them may know that the more freely they declare their thoughts the better they will be liked. Besides these, the Prince should hearken to no others, but should follow the course determined on, and afterwards adhere firmly to his resolves.

And with these counsellors collectively, and with each of them separately, his bearing should be such, that each and all of them may know that the more freely they declare their thoughts the better they will be liked. Besides these, the Prince should hearken to no others, but should follow the course determined on, and afterwards adhere firmly to his resolves. Whoever acts otherwise is either undone by flatterers, or from continually vacillating as opinions vary, comes to be held in light esteem.

Key Concepts

• a prudent Prince should follow a middle course, by choosing certain discreet men from among his subjects, and allowing them alone free leave to speak their minds on any matter on which he asks their opinion, and on none other.
• he ought to ask their opinion on everything, and after hearing what they have to say, should reflect and judge for himself.
• each and all of them may know that the more freely they declare their thoughts the better they will be liked.
• Besides these, the Prince should hearken to no others, but should follow the course determined on, and afterwards adhere firmly to his resolves.

Context

Chapter 23, lines 1551-1588; prescriptive procedure for managing counsel to avoid flattery and contempt.