The Portable Machiavelli
By: Machiavelli
The Private Letters
Private Letter III:
? To Giovan Battista Soderini or Piero Soderini in Perugia
? One is obliged to look to the results of an action to see how it is accomplished, and not to the mean by which it was achieved.
? Each man should do what his spirit tells him, do not take direction from anyone
? The fortunate man is one who can change according to the changing times, an unfortunate man is not able to do this, and results in failure. Times are always changing.
? One can maintain good fortune by understanding the changing times and accommodating himself. One who avoids all bad with this method will be seen as a man who can command the stars and fate.
? Such men cannot be found, due to being short-sighted and unable to discipline their character. Fortune therefore commands men and keeps them under her control.
? Cruelty, perfidy, and contempt for religion increase a new ruler's reputation, where faith, humanity, and religion have been abandoned.
Private Letter V:
? To Francesco Vettori in Rome
? Anyone who loses his own interests for those of others sacrifices his own and receives no thanks from the others.
? Speaks of his misfortune. Discusses his times prior to the present. It appears that he works for someone now cutting wood. He reads more living his life vicariously through the characters.
? He is still concerned of his reputation that he can be trusted with the letters of the Ambassador.
? He ...