# XXIV: Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States explained — The Prince

> Chapter companion for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

## What happens

Machiavelli argues that new princes can appear well established by following the previous suggestions, and that the loss of states by Italian princes is due to their own sloth and lack of wisdom, not fortune. He emphasizes the importance of good laws, arms, allies, and example, and criticizes princes who fail to secure the people and nobles, or who rely on others for restoration rather than their own valour.

## Themes in this chapter

### Acquisition and Maintenance of Power

Machiavelli discusses how a new prince can secure his state through good laws, arms, allies, and example, contrasting with hereditary princes who lose their states through lack of wisdom.

### The Role of Fortune and Virtù

The chapter criticizes princes who blame fortune for their losses, arguing that their own sloth and lack of provision are the true causes, and that reliable security depends on one's own valour.

### Military Strength and Self-Reliance

Emphasizes the common defect in arms among Italian princes and the necessity of self-reliance, as deliverance that does not depend on oneself is unreliable.

## Character check-ins

### Philip of Macedon

Cited as a warlike man who knew how to attract the people and secure the nobles, sustaining war against enemies for many years despite limited territory.

### Alexander the Great

Mentioned as the son of Philip of Macedon, to distinguish the Philip discussed.

## Key lines

> Thus it will be a double glory for him to have established a new principality, and adorned and strengthened it with good laws, good arms, good allies, and with a good example; so will it be a double disgrace to him who, born a prince, shall lose his state by want of wisdom.

A new prince who builds a strong state with wise laws, military power, alliances, and virtuous conduct earns double glory, while a hereditary prince who loses his state through foolishness earns double shame.

_Machiavelli contrasts the potential glory of a new prince with the disgrace of a hereditary prince who fails._

> Therefore, do not let our princes accuse fortune for the loss of their principalities after so many years’ possession, but rather their own sloth, because in quiet times they never thought there could be a change (it is a common defect in man not to make any provision in the calm against the tempest), and when afterwards the bad times came they thought of flight and not of defending themselves.

Princes should blame their own laziness, not fortune, for losing their states, as they failed to prepare for change during peaceful times and then sought escape instead of defense when trouble came.

_Machiavelli criticizes the tendency to neglect preparation in calm periods and to rely on flight rather than defense in crisis._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xxiv-why-the-princes-of-italy-have-lost-their-states
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters