Pagina 198 de 310

A prince, therefore, ought always to take counsel, but only when

he wishes and not when others wish; he ought rather to discourage

every one from offering advice unless he asks it; but, however,

he ought to be a constant inquirer, and afterwards a patient

listener concerning the things of which he inquired; also, on

learning that any one, on any consideration, has not told him the

truth, he should let his anger be felt.

And if there are some who think that a prince who conveys an

impression of his wisdom is not so through his own ability, but

through the good advisers that he has around him, beyond doubt

they are deceived, because this is an axiom which never fails:

that a prince who is not wise himself will never take good

advice, unless by chance he has yielded his affairs entirely to

one person who happens to be a very prudent man. In this case

indeed he may be well governed, but it would not be for long,

because such a governor would in a short time take away his state

from him.