feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/sparknotes/The Prince/section_3_part_1.txt
feat_book_id: The Prince.chapter viii
feat_summary_id: chapter viii
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter VIII", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210303115306/https://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/section4/", "summary": "Concerning Those Who Become Princes by Evil Means Machiavelli continues to describe the ways that a man can become a prince. In addition to fortune and prowess, criminal acts or the approval of his fellow citizens can facilitate a man's rise to power. Those who come to power by crime kill fellow citizens and betray friends. They are \"treacherous, pitiless, and irreligious. Princes who commit criminal acts can achieve power, but never glory. King Agathocles of Syracuse is an example of a man who rose to power through crime. Agathocles was a common citizen who joined the militia, rose to a leading rank in the army, and then assembled a meeting of the senate at which he ordered his men to kill all the senators and to install him in power. Agathocles' reign was characterized by constant difficulties and threats to his power. However, he withstood them and maintained his rule. Once in power, Agathocles proved as competent as any eminent commander, but the severity of the crimes he committed during his ascension preclude his being considered great. Cruelty, which is itself evil, can be used well if it is applied once at the outset, and thereafter only employed in self-defense and for the greater good of one's subjects. Regular and frequent perpetration of cruel actions earns a ruler infamy. If a prince comes to power by crime and wishes to be successful, he, like Agathocles, must only use cruelty in the first sense. Therefore, when a prince decides to seize a state, he must determine how much injury to inflict. He needs to strike all at once and then refrain from further atrocities. In this way, his subjects will eventually forget the violence and cruelty. Gradually, resentment will fade, and the people will come to appreciate the resulting benefits of the prince's rule. Most important, a prince should be consistent in the way he treats his subjects", "analysis": ""}
text: 
  Although a prince may rise from a private station in two ways, neither
  of which can be entirely attributed to fortune or genius, yet it is
  manifest to me that I must not be silent on them, although one could be
  more copiously treated when I discuss republics. These methods are
  when, either by some wicked or nefarious ways, one ascends to the
  principality, or when by the favour of his fellow-citizens a private
  person becomes the prince of his country. And speaking of the first
  method, it will be illustrated by two examples--one ancient, the other
  modern--and without entering further into the subject, I consider these
  two examples will suffice those who may be compelled to follow them.
  
  Agathocles, the Sicilian,(*) became King of Syracuse not only from
  a private but from a low and abject position. This man, the son of a
  potter, through all the changes in his fortunes always led an infamous
  life. Nevertheless, he accompanied his infamies with so much ability of
  mind and body that, having devoted himself to the military profession,
  he rose through its ranks to be Praetor of Syracuse. Being established
  in that position, and having deliberately resolved to make himself
  prince and to seize by violence, without obligation to others, that
  which had been conceded to him by assent, he came to an understanding
  for this purpose with Amilcar, the Carthaginian, who, with his army, was
  fighting in Sicily. One morning he assembled the people and the senate
  of Syracuse, as if he had to discuss with them things relating to the
  Republic, and at a given signal the soldiers killed all the senators and
  the richest of the people; these dead, he seized and held the princedom
  of that city without any civil commotion. And although he was twice
  routed by the Carthaginians, and ultimately besieged, yet not only was
  he able to defend his city, but leaving part of his men for its defence,
  with the others he attacked Africa, and in a short time raised the
  siege of Syracuse. The Carthaginians, reduced to extreme necessity, were
  compelled to come to terms with Agathocles, and, leaving Sicily to him,
  had to be content with the possession of Africa.
  
       (*) Agathocles the Sicilian, born 361 B.C., died 289 B.C.
  
  Therefore, he who considers the actions and the genius of this man will
  see nothing, or little, which can be attributed to fortune, inasmuch as
  he attained pre-eminence, as is shown above, not by the favour of any
  one, but step by step in the military profession, which steps were
  gained with a thousand troubles and perils, and were afterwards boldly
  held by him with many hazardous dangers. Yet it cannot be called talent
  to slay fellow-citizens, to deceive friends, to be without faith,
  without mercy, without religion; such methods may gain empire, but
  not glory. Still, if the courage of Agathocles in entering into and
  extricating himself from dangers be considered, together with his
  greatness of mind in enduring and overcoming hardships, it cannot be
  seen why he should be esteemed less than the most notable captain.
  Nevertheless, his barbarous cruelty and inhumanity with infinite
  wickedness do not permit him to be celebrated among the most excellent
  men. What he achieved cannot be attributed either to fortune or genius.
  
  In our times, during the rule of Alexander the Sixth, Oliverotto da
  Fermo, having been left an orphan many years before, was brought up
  by his maternal uncle, Giovanni Fogliani, and in the early days of his
  youth sent to fight under Pagolo Vitelli, that, being trained under
  his discipline, he might attain some high position in the military
  profession. After Pagolo died, he fought under his brother Vitellozzo,
  and in a very short time, being endowed with wit and a vigorous body
  and mind, he became the first man in his profession. But it appearing
  a paltry thing to serve under others, he resolved, with the aid of some
  citizens of Fermo, to whom the slavery of their country was dearer than
  its liberty, and with the help of the Vitelleschi, to seize Fermo. So
  he wrote to Giovanni Fogliani that, having been away from home for many
  years, he wished to visit him and his city, and in some measure to look
  upon his patrimony; and although he had not laboured to acquire anything
  except honour, yet, in order that the citizens should see he had not
  spent his time in vain, he desired to come honourably, so would be
  accompanied by one hundred horsemen, his friends and retainers; and he
  entreated Giovanni to arrange that he should be received honourably by
  the Fermians, all of which would be not only to his honour, but also to
  that of Giovanni himself, who had brought him up.
  
  Giovanni, therefore, did not fail in any attentions due to his nephew,
  and he caused him to be honourably received by the Fermians, and he
  lodged him in his own house, where, having passed some days, and having
  arranged what was necessary for his wicked designs, Oliverotto gave a
  solemn banquet to which he invited Giovanni Fogliani and the chiefs of
  Fermo. When the viands and all the other entertainments that are usual
  in such banquets were finished, Oliverotto artfully began certain grave
  discourses, speaking of the greatness of Pope Alexander and his son
  Cesare, and of their enterprises, to which discourse Giovanni and others
  answered; but he rose at once, saying that such matters ought to be
  discussed in a more private place, and he betook himself to a chamber,
  whither Giovanni and the rest of the citizens went in after him. No
  sooner were they seated than soldiers issued from secret places and
  slaughtered Giovanni and the rest. After these murders Oliverotto,
  mounted on horseback, rode up and down the town and besieged the chief
  magistrate in the palace, so that in fear the people were forced to obey
  him, and to form a government, of which he made himself the prince. He
  killed all the malcontents who were able to injure him, and strengthened
  himself with new civil and military ordinances, in such a way that, in
  the year during which he held the principality, not only was he
  secure in the city of Fermo, but he had become formidable to all his
  neighbours. And his destruction would have been as difficult as that
  of Agathocles if he had not allowed himself to be overreached by Cesare
  Borgia, who took him with the Orsini and Vitelli at Sinigalia, as was
  stated above. Thus one year after he had committed this parricide, he
  was strangled, together with Vitellozzo, whom he had made his leader in
  valour and wickedness.
  
  Some may wonder how it can happen that Agathocles, and his like, after
  infinite treacheries and cruelties, should live for long secure in
  his country, and defend himself from external enemies, and never be
  conspired against by his own citizens; seeing that many others, by means
  of cruelty, have never been able even in peaceful times to hold the
  state, still less in the doubtful times of war. I believe that this
  follows from severities(*) being badly or properly used. Those may be
  called properly used, if of evil it is possible to speak well, that are
  applied at one blow and are necessary to one's security, and that are
  not persisted in afterwards unless they can be turned to the advantage
  of the subjects. The badly employed are those which, notwithstanding
  they may be few in the commencement, multiply with time rather than
  decrease. Those who practise the first system are able, by aid of God
  or man, to mitigate in some degree their rule, as Agathocles did. It is
  impossible for those who follow the other to maintain themselves.
  
       (*) Mr Burd suggests that this word probably comes near the
       modern equivalent of Machiavelli's thought when he speaks of
       "crudelta" than the more obvious "cruelties."
  
  Hence it is to be remarked that, 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; neither can he rely on his subjects, nor can they attach
  themselves to him, owing to their continued and repeated wrongs. For
  injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less,
  they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that
  the flavour of them may last longer.
  
  And above all things, a prince ought to live amongst his people in such
  a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall
  make him change; because if the necessity for this comes in troubled
  times, you are too late for harsh measures; and mild ones will not help
  you, for they will be considered as forced from you, and no one will be
  under any obligation to you for them.
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter VIII
target: Concerning Those Who Become Princes by Evil Means Machiavelli continues to describe the ways that a man can become a prince. In addition to fortune and prowess, criminal acts or the approval of his fellow citizens can facilitate a man's rise to power. Those who come to power by crime kill fellow citizens and betray friends. They are "treacherous, pitiless, and irreligious. Princes who commit criminal acts can achieve power, but never glory. King Agathocles of Syracuse is an example of a man who rose to power through crime. Agathocles was a common citizen who joined the militia, rose to a leading rank in the army, and then assembled a meeting of the senate at which he ordered his men to kill all the senators and to install him in power. Agathocles' reign was characterized by constant difficulties and threats to his power. However, he withstood them and maintained his rule. Once in power, Agathocles proved as competent as any eminent commander, but the severity of the crimes he committed during his ascension preclude his being considered great. Cruelty, which is itself evil, can be used well if it is applied once at the outset, and thereafter only employed in self-defense and for the greater good of one's subjects. Regular and frequent perpetration of cruel actions earns a ruler infamy. If a prince comes to power by crime and wishes to be successful, he, like Agathocles, must only use cruelty in the first sense. Therefore, when a prince decides to seize a state, he must determine how much injury to inflict. He needs to strike all at once and then refrain from further atrocities. In this way, his subjects will eventually forget the violence and cruelty. Gradually, resentment will fade, and the people will come to appreciate the resulting benefits of the prince's rule. Most important, a prince should be consistent in the way he treats his subjects