Causal explanation for hereditary stability: a prince by birth has fewer occasions to offend and thus is better loved; the antiquity of rule erases motives for innovation, whereas change itself invites further change.

By Niccolò Machiavelli, from The Prince

Key Arguments

  • Because a hereditary prince has fewer reasons to give offence, he is better loved and naturally popular unless personally odious through vices.
  • Longstanding rule effaces memories and causes that motivate subjects to seek change.
  • Political change is self-perpetuating: one alteration creates openings for subsequent ones, implying that avoiding initial change preserves stability.

Source Quotes

We have in Italy an example of this in the Duke of Ferrara, who never could have withstood the attacks of the Venetians in 1484, nor those of Pope Julius in 1510, had not his authority in that State been consolidated by time. For since a Prince by birth has fewer occasions and less need to give offence, he ought to be better loved, and will naturally be popular with his subjects unless outrageous vices make him odious. Moreover, the very antiquity and continuance of his rule will efface the memories and causes which lead to innovation.
For since a Prince by birth has fewer occasions and less need to give offence, he ought to be better loved, and will naturally be popular with his subjects unless outrageous vices make him odious. Moreover, the very antiquity and continuance of his rule will efface the memories and causes which lead to innovation. For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.
Moreover, the very antiquity and continuance of his rule will efface the memories and causes which lead to innovation. For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.

Key Concepts

  • For since a Prince by birth has fewer occasions and less need to give offence, he ought to be better loved, and will naturally be popular with his subjects unless outrageous vices make him odious.
  • the very antiquity and continuance of his rule will efface the memories and causes which lead to innovation.
  • For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.

Context

Machiavelli’s reasons underpinning the superior stability of hereditary princedoms, following the thesis and example.