know how to deviate from it when circumstances may require it. He should, above all, study to utter nothing which does not breathe kindness, justice, good faith, and piety: the last quality is however that which it is most important for him to appear to possess, as men in general judge more by their eyes than by their other senses.. Every man can see, but it is allotted but to few to know how to rectify the errors they commit by the eyes. We easily discern what a man appears to be, but not what he really is; and the smaller number dare not gainsay the multitude, who besides have with them the strength and the splendor of government. Now when it is necessary to form a judgment of the minds of men, and more especially of those of princes, as we cannot have recourse to any tribunal, we must attend only to results: the point is to maintain his authority; let the means be what they may, they will always appear honourable, and every one will praise them: for the vulgar are always caught by appearances, and judge only by the event. Now, the vulgar comprehends almost every one, and the few are of no consequence except when the multitude know not on whom to rely.
A prince who is now on the throne, but whom I don't chuse to name, always preaches peace and good faith; but if he had observed either the one
