Discourses on Livy · Chapter
XVIII explained
Machiavelli examines the near impossibility of maintaining or establishing a free government in a corrupt city.
What happens
Machiavelli examines the near impossibility of maintaining or establishing a free government in a corrupt city. He argues that as citizens become corrupt, original institutions become unsuitable and new laws alone cannot restore virtue. Extraordinary measures, including monarchical power, may be necessary, but such means are rarely employed by good men or for good ends.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption and Decay
Central theme: Machiavelli argues that corruption makes free government unsustainable and that institutions must adapt or be replaced.
Necessity and Reason of State
Discusses the need for extraordinary, even violent, measures to restore order in a corrupt state, and the rarity of virtuous rulers employing such means.
Leadership and Moral Character
Explores the dilemma that restoring a republic requires a good man, but seizing power by violence requires a bad man, making virtuous restoration unlikely.
Characters to notice
- Clearchus
Cited as an example of a ruler who used violence to secure authority, though his people were not as corrupt as those Machiavelli describes.
- Romulus
Mentioned for killing his brother and Titus Tatius to secure sole authority, yet his people were not deeply corrupt.
- Titus Tatius
Referenced as a co-ruler killed by Romulus to consolidate power.
Key passages
“But since the restoration of a state to new political life presupposes a good man, and to become prince of a city by violence presupposes a bad man, it can, consequently, very seldom happen that, although the end be good, a good man will be found ready to become a prince by evil ways, or that a bad man having become a prince will be disposed to act virtuously, or think of turning to good account his ill-acquired authority.”
Reviving a state requires a virtuous person, but seizing power through force requires a wicked one. So it's rare that a good person will use evil means for a good end, or that a wicked ruler will use his power virtuously.
Highlights the moral paradox at the heart of political renewal in corrupt states.
“For to effect a gradual reform requires a sagacious man who can discern mischief while it is still remote and in the germ. But it may well happen that no such person is found in a city; or that, if found, he is unable to persuade others of what he is himself persuaded.”
Gradual reform needs a wise leader who can spot problems early, but such a person may not exist or may fail to convince others.
Explains the difficulty of incremental change in a corrupt society.