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A principality is created either by the people or by the nobles,

accordingly as one or other of them has the opportunity; for the

nobles, seeing they cannot withstand the people, begin to cry up

the reputation of one of themselves, and they make him a prince,

so that under his shadow they can give vent to their ambitions.

The people, finding they cannot resist the nobles, also cry up

the reputation of one of themselves, and make him a prince so as

to be defended by his authority. He who obtains sovereignty by

the assistance of the nobles maintains himself with more

difficulty than he who comes to it by the aid of the people,

because the former finds himself with many around him who

consider themselves his equals, and because of this he can

neither rule nor manage them to his liking. But he who reaches

sovereignty by popular favour finds himself alone, and has none

around him, or few, who are not prepared to obey him.