The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu: The Significant Chapters and Supporting Selections

IX. The Power of the Prince (Selections)

CHAPTER IX THE POWER OF THE PRINCE m Power being one of the things most necessary to the grandeur of kings and the success of their governments , those who have the principal management of states are particularly obliged to omit nothing which could contribute to making their masters fully and universally respected. As goodness is the object of love, so power is the cause of fear. It is certain that of all the forces capable of producing results in public affairs, fear, if based on both esteem and reverence, is the most effective , since it can drive everyone to do his duty. If this principle is of great efficacy with regard to internal affairs , it is of no less value externally, since both foreigners and subjects take the same view of redoubtable power and both refrain from offending a prince whom they recognize as being able to hurt them if he so wishes. I have said already that this power of which I speak should be based on esteem and respect. I hasten to add that this lIS THE PRINCE 1 19 is so necessary that if it is based on anything else there is the grave danger that instead of producing a reasonable fear the result will be a hatred of princes, for whom the worst possible fate is to incur public disapprobation. There are several kinds of power which can make princes respected and feared-it is a tree with various branches, all nourished by the same root. The prince ought to be powerful because of his good reputation, because of a reasonable number of soldiers kept continuously under arms, because of a sufficient revenue to meet his ordinary expenses, plus a special sum of money in his treasury to cover frequent but unexpected contingencies, and, finally, because of the possession of the hearts of his subjects, as we will clearly demonstrate. A good reputation is especially necessary to a prince, for if we hold him in high regard he can accomplish more with his name alone than a less well esteemed ruler can with great armies at his command. It is imperative that he guard it above life itself, and it is better to risk fortune and grandeur than to allow the slightest blemish to fall upon it, since it is certain that the first lessening of his reputation, no matter how slight, is a step in the most dangerous of directions and can lead to his ruin. Those who guide themselves by the rules and precepts contained in this testament will without doubt acquire names of no little weight in the minds of both their sub- 120 POWER OF jects and their foreign neighbors. This is particularly so if, being devoted to God, they are also devoted to themselves ; that is, if they keep their word and are faithful to their promises. These are indispensable conditions to the maintenance of the reputation of a prince, for just as he who is destitute of them is esteemed by no one, so he who possesses them is revered and trusted by all. It is necessary to be deprived of common sense to be ignorant of how important it is to great states to have their frontiers well fortified. It is something especially necessary for this realm where the light-headedness of our people renders them incapable of making great conquests . On the other hand, their valor makes them invincible in defense if provided with the proper positions and facilities. These can give rein to their courage without exposing them to excessive hardships, the only enemies they find too difficult to conquer. A well-fortified frontier is capable either offrustrating the plans of envious enemies or at least of stopping the course of their aggression if they should dare to try open force. The temperament of our people needs to be protected from the terror which can arise from an unforeseen attack, a terror which can be forestalled by the knowledge that the accesses to the realm have ramparts so strong that they cannot be taken suddenly and can be reduced at best only after considerable time. THE PRINCE I 2 I There are no people in the world so little suited to war as ours.32 Their light-headedness and impatience with the slightest difficulties are two characteristics which to my great regret only go to prove this. Although Caesar said that the Franks had mastered...