Discourses on Livy · Chapter
LVIII explained
Machiavelli defends the multitude against the common accusation of fickleness and inconstancy, arguing that a people restrained by laws is wiser, more constant, and more grateful than a prince.
What happens
Machiavelli defends the multitude against the common accusation of fickleness and inconstancy, arguing that a people restrained by laws is wiser, more constant, and more grateful than a prince. He compares popular governments favorably to princely rule, emphasizing that both require legal restraint, but that a people errs less and is more easily corrected. He cites Roman history to demonstrate the people's prudence, stability, and hatred of tyranny.
Themes in this chapter
Republican Liberty and Popular Government
Machiavelli argues that popular government, when regulated by laws, is superior to princely rule in wisdom and constancy.
Leadership and Moral Character
Compares the behavior of princes and peoples under legal restraint, emphasizing the greater virtue of the people.
Ingratitude and Suspicion in Republics
Addresses the charge of popular ingratitude, using Scipio as an example, and argues it is less severe than that of princes.
Characters to notice
- Titus Livius
Cited as the historian who affirms the fickleness of the multitude, but Machiavelli challenges his view.
- Manlius Capitolinus
Example of a citizen condemned by the Roman people, who later mourned his death.
- Scipio
Mentioned in the context of the people's ingratitude, which Machiavelli argues is less than that of princes.
- Alexander the Great
Cited as a prince who committed cruel acts similar to those of an uncontrolled multitude, e.g., mourning Clitus.
Key passages
“For if all the glories and all the defects both of peoples and of princes be carefully weighed, it will appear that both for goodness and for glory a people is to be preferred.”
When you compare the achievements and faults of peoples and princes, the people comes out ahead in both virtue and honor.
Machiavelli's central thesis favoring popular government over princely rule.
“For a turbulent and unruly people may be spoken to by a good man, and readily brought back to good ways; but none can speak to a wicked prince, nor any remedy be found against him but by the sword.”
A disorderly crowd can be calmed by a wise speaker, but a bad prince can only be stopped by violence.
Highlights the ease of correcting a people versus the danger of a prince.
“Nor is it without reason that the voice of the people has been likened to the voice of God; for we see that widespread beliefs fulfil themselves, and bring about marvellous results, so as to have the appearance of presaging by some occult quality either weal or woe.”
The people's collective judgment is almost prophetic, often leading to remarkable outcomes.
Machiavelli elevates popular opinion to a near-divine level of insight.