A prince who acts otherwise, either loses himself in listening to flatterers, or by a wavering conduct loses all respect and consideration. I will cite in support of this doctrine an instance from the history of our own times. Father Luke said of the Emperor Maximilian, his master, now on the throne, that "he never took counsel of any person, and notwithstanding this he never acted from an opinion of his own," and herein he adopted method diametrically opposite to that which I have traced out. For as this prince never confided his designs to any of his ministers, their observations came at the very moment only when they ought to be executed; so that, pressed by the exigencies of the moment, and overwhelmed with obstacles and contrarieties which he had not foreseen, he yielded to whatever opinions his ministers might offer. Now I would ask what dependance can be placed on a prince who undoes to-day what he did yesterday?
A prince ought always to ask advice, but only when it pleases himself and not when it pleases others, so that no one shall presume to give him advice when he does not request it : he ought to be very inquisitive, and to listen with attention;
child of patriotism in Spain, and Austria is about to feel his vengeance. Humbled and degraded Francis, how accurately has Machiavelli, in the latter part of this chapter, pourtrayed thee and thy council of war!"
