Key Arguments

• Delegation of blame-worthy measures shields the prince from ill-will associated with necessary but unpopular actions.
• Retaining favors consolidates goodwill toward the prince personally.
• Balancing esteem for nobles with avoidance of popular odium preserves stability.

Source Quotes

Nor could there be any better, wiser, or surer safeguard for the King and the Kingdom. And hence we may draw another notable lesson, namely, that Princes should devolve on others those matters that entail responsibility, and reserve to themselves those that relate to grace and favour. And again I say that a Prince should esteem the great, but must not make himself odious to the people.

And hence we may draw another notable lesson, namely, that Princes should devolve on others those matters that entail responsibility, and reserve to themselves those that relate to grace and favour. And again I say that a Prince should esteem the great, but must not make himself odious to the people. To some it may perhaps appear, that if the lives and deaths of many of the Roman Emperors be considered, they offer examples opposed to the views expressed by me; since we find that some among them who had always lived good lives, and shown themselves possessed of great qualities, were nevertheless deposed and even put to death by their subjects who had conspired against them.

Key Concepts

• Princes should devolve on others those matters that entail responsibility, and reserve to themselves those that relate to grace and favour.
• a Prince should esteem the great, but must not make himself odious to the people.

Context

Chapter 19, lines 1170-1305; general statecraft maxims drawn from the French example.