# XLIV explained — Discourses on Livy

> Chapter companion for Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.

## What happens

The chapter examines the helplessness of a multitude without a leader, using the Roman commons' retreat to the Sacred Hill as an example. It also warns against combining a request with a threat, as seen when the commons demanded the decemvirs be burned alive while asking for Valerius and Horatius's mediation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Leadership and Moral Character

The multitude's helplessness without a head highlights the necessity of leadership for collective action.

### Necessity and Reason of State

The advice to conceal intentions and not to threaten while asking reflects prudence in political negotiation.

## Character check-ins

### Titus Livius

Quoted regarding the commons' inability to reply without a leader.

### Valerius Corvinus

Sent to negotiate with the commons; rejected the demand to burn the decemvirs alive.

### Appius Claudius

Implied as one of the decemvirs whose office was to be laid down before negotiations.

## Key lines

> Not that they were at a loss what to answer, but because they had none to answer for them;

The commons knew what to say but had no leader to speak for them.

_Illustrates the helplessness of a leaderless multitude._

> they were rushing into that very cruelty which they themselves had condemned in others;

The commons were about to commit the same cruelty they had criticized in others.

_Valerius and Horatius's rebuke against demanding the decemvirs be burned alive._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xliv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/discourses_on_livy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters