1 A like risk is almost always incurred by those who, on the approach of an enemy, resolve to defend some place of strength, or to guard the defiles by which their country is entered.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 1: CHAPTER XXIII. 2 I say this because on other occasions this same senate had forbidden these nations to defend themselves; and a less prudent assembly might have thought it lowered their credit to withdraw that prohibition.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 1: CHAPTER XXXVIII. 3 But these paths Piero could not pursue without dishonour, since he could not, if he was to preserve his fair fame, have joined in destroying that liberty which he had been put forward to defend.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 1: CHAPTER LII. 4 For often, from defect of judgment, men take upon them to defend others, when they have neither skill nor ability to defend themselves.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 2: CHAPTER XI. 5 For in this way each will defend himself in the best manner his means admit.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 2: CHAPTER XII. 6 For to them it seemed that the citizens of Capua were unworthy to enjoy advantages which they knew not how to defend.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 2: CHAPTER XX. 7 But the States of which I speak, leaving the heart undefended, defend only the hands and feet.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 2: CHAPTER XXX. 8 Here we see the disadvantage of having several leaders in one army or in a town which has to defend itself.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 3: CHAPTER XV. 9 Whosoever observes this method in a city which is attacked, will be able to defend it with ease; but whosoever disregards it, and follows not the example of Camillus, shall never succeed.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 3: CHAPTER XXX. 10 And thus it happens that feeble-minded princes, when they fall into difficulties, think rather of flight than of defence, because, having made bad use of their prosperity, they are wholly unprepared to defend themselves.
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In BOOK 3: CHAPTER XXXI. 11 as if they should have said, this man is unfit to be our king, not having skill and conduct enough in war, to be able to defend us.
12 They may repulse the present attempt, but must not revenge past violences: for it is natural for us to defend life and limb, but that an inferior should punish a superior, is against nature.
13 Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.
The Prince By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In CHAPTER VI — CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQU... 14 In the second case one can say nothing except to encourage such princes to provision and fortify their towns, and not on any account to defend the country.
The Prince By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In CHAPTER X — CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH THE STRENGTH OF A... 15 I conclude, therefore, that no principality is secure without having its own forces; on the contrary, it is entirely dependent on good fortune, not having the valour which in adversity would defend it.
The Prince By Niccolo MachiavelliContext Highlight In CHAPTER XIII — CONCERNING AUXILIARIES, MIXED SOLDIERY, AN...