# XXXIX explained — Discourses on Livy

> Chapter companion for Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.

## What happens

Machiavelli observes that the same desires and passions recur across different nations and times, using the example of Florence's mistaken abolition of the Ten of War in 1494 and Rome's similar attempt to abolish the consulship through the Terentillian law, both of which led to worse outcomes until the original institutions were restored.

## Themes in this chapter

### Historical Cyclicality and Human Nature

Machiavelli argues that the same desires and passions recur in all nations, making past events a guide to future ones.

### Ingratitude and Suspicion in Republics

Both the Florentine people and the Roman commons blamed their magistrates for wars caused by external forces, showing suspicion and ingratitude toward their leaders.

## Character check-ins

### Titus Livius

Livy is the source for the Roman historical example of the tribune Terentillus and the conflict over consular power.

## Key lines

> Anyone comparing the present with the past will soon perceive that in all cities and in all nations there prevail the same desires and passions as always have prevailed

By studying history, one sees that human desires and passions are constant across time and place.

_Machiavelli's core thesis on historical recurrence._

> the people recognizing their mistake, and that the evil was in the disease and not in the physician, reinstated the magistracy of the Ten.

The Florentines realized the problem was the war itself, not the magistrates, so they restored the Ten of War.

_Illustrates the error of blaming institutions for underlying problems._

> so much greater was their hatred of the name than of the thing.

The commons hated the title 'consul' more than the actual power it represented.

_Highlights the irrationality of the Roman commons in their conflict with the nobles._

## Links

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