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Discourses on the First Decade of Titus LiviusNiccolò Machiavelli

Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius

by OpenStories

Original author: Niccolò Machiavelli

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"Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a work of political history and philosophy written around 1517. Using the first ten books of Livy's ancient Roman history as a foundation, Machiavelli examines how past civilizations can teach lessons for contemporary politics. He explores different forms of government, the cycles of political greatness, and Rome's evolution into a republic. Through 142 chapters, Machiavelli argues that studying history reveals timeless principles about power, leadership, and the common good.

Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, by Niccolò Machiavelli. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #10827.

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145 Chapters

  1. 1.Preface: Chapter1,293 words
  2. 2.Preface521 words
  3. 3.Book III1,367 words
  4. 4.Preface696 words
  5. 5.Chapter I: Of the Beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular1,490 words
  6. 6.Chapter II: Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them2,146 words
  7. 7.Chapter III: Of the Accidents which led in Rome to the creation of420 words
  8. 8.Chapter IV: That the Dissensions between the Senate and Commons of735 words
  9. 9.Chapter V: Whether the Guardianship of public Freedom is safer in the1,026 words
  10. 10.Chapter VI: Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a1,906 words
  11. 11.Chapter VII: That to preserve Liberty in a State there must exist the1,198 words
  12. 12.Chapter VIII: That Calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the1,077 words
  13. 13.Chapter IX: That to give new Institutions to a Commonwealth, or to1,056 words
  14. 14.Chapter X: That in proportion as the Founder of a Kingdom or1,348 words
  15. 15.Chapter XI: Of the Religion of the Romans1,196 words
  16. 16.Chapter XII: That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and1,094 words
  17. 17.Chapter XIII: Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving813 words
  18. 18.Chapter XIV: That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the695 words
  19. 19.Chapter XV: How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken574 words
  20. 20.Chapter XVI: That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by1,404 words
  21. 21.Chapter XVII: That a corrupt People obtaining Freedom can hardly913 words
  22. 22.Chapter XVIII: How a Free Government existing in a corrupt City may be1,413 words
  23. 23.Chapter XIX: After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself716 words
  24. 24.Chapter XX: That the consecutive Reigns of two valiant Princes produce197 words
  25. 25.Chapter XXI: That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a476 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXII: What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman293 words
  27. 27.Chapter XXIII: That we should never hazard our whole Fortunes where we800 words
  28. 28.Chapter XXIV: That well-ordered States always provide Rewards and494 words
  29. 29.Chapter XXV: That he who would reform the Institutions of a free380 words
  30. 30.Chapter XXVI: A new Prince in a City or Province of which he has taken309 words
  31. 31.Chapter XXVII: That Men seldom know how to be wholly good or wholly403 words
  32. 32.Chapter XXVIII: Whence it came that the Romans were less ungrateful to487 words
  33. 33.Chapter XXIX: Whether a People or a Prince is the more ungrateful1,226 words
  34. 34.Chapter XXX: How Princes and Commonwealths may avoid the vice of644 words
  35. 35.Chapter XXXI: That the Roman Captains were never punished with extreme615 words
  36. 36.Chapter XXXII: That a Prince or Commonwealth should not delay405 words
  37. 37.Chapter XXXIII: When a Mischief has grown up in, or against a State,1,010 words
  38. 38.Chapter XXXIV: That the authority of the Dictator did good and not1,044 words
  39. 39.Chapter XXXV: Why the Creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, although629 words
  40. 40.Chapter XXXVI: That Citizens who have held the higher Offices of a379 words
  41. 41.Chapter XXXVII: Of the Mischief bred in Rome by the Agrarian Law: and1,297 words
  42. 42.Chapter XXXVIII: That weak Republics are irresolute and undecided; and1,093 words
  43. 43.Chapter XXXIX: That often the same Accidents are seen to befall660 words
  44. 44.Chapter XL: Of the creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, and what2,167 words
  45. 45.Chapter XLI: That it is unwise to pass at a bound from leniency to375 words
  46. 46.Chapter XLIII: That Men fighting in their own Cause make good and290 words
  47. 47.Chapter XLIV: That the Multitude is helpless without a Head: and that371 words
  48. 48.Chapter XLV: That it is of evil example, especially in the Maker of a677 words
  49. 49.Chapter XLVI: That Men climb from one step of Ambition to another,624 words
  50. 50.Chapter XLVII: That though Men deceive themselves in Generalities, in1,506 words
  51. 51.Chapter XLIX: That if Cities which, like Rome, had their beginning in950 words
  52. 52.Chapter L: That neither any Council nor any Magistrate should have445 words
  53. 53.Chapter LI: What a Prince or Republic does of Necessity, should seem260 words
  54. 54.Chapter LII: That to check the arrogance of a Citizen who is growing837 words
  55. 55.Chapter LIII: That the People, deceived by a false show of Advantage,1,337 words
  56. 56.Chapter LIV: Of the boundless Authority which a great Man may use to376 words
  57. 57.Chapter LV: That Government is easily carried on in a City wherein the1,698 words
  58. 58.Chapter LVI: That when great Calamities are about to befall a City or350 words
  59. 59.Chapter LVII: That the People are strong collectively, but495 words
  60. 60.Chapter LVIII: That a People is wiser and more constant than a Prince2,018 words
  61. 61.Chapter LIX: To what Leagues or Alliances we may most trust; whether807 words
  62. 62.Chapter LX: That the Consulship and all the other Magistracies in Rome464 words
  63. 63.Preface1,418 words
  64. 64.Chapter I: Whether the Empire acquired by the Romans was more due to1,425 words
  65. 65.Chapter II: With what Nations the Romans had to contend, and how2,399 words
  66. 66.Chapter III: That Rome became great by destroying the Cities which lay619 words
  67. 67.Chapter IV: That Commonwealths have followed three Methods for1,849 words
  68. 68.Chapter V: That changes in Sects and Tongues, and the happening of788 words
  69. 69.Chapter VI: Of the Methods followed by the Romans in making War831 words
  70. 70.Chapter VII: Of the Quantity of Land assigned by the Romans to each224 words
  71. 71.Chapter VIII: Why certain Nations leave their ancestral Seats and1,403 words
  72. 72.Chapter IX: Of the Causes which commonly give rise to Wars between560 words
  73. 73.Chapter X: That contrary to the vulgar opinion, Money is not the1,272 words
  1. 74.Chapter XI: That it were unwise to ally yourself a Prince who has355 words
  2. 75.Chapter XII: Whether when Invasion is imminent it is better to1,616 words
  3. 76.Chapter XIII: That Men rise from humble to high Fortunes rather by714 words
  4. 77.Chapter XIV: That Men often err in thinking they can subdue Pride by506 words
  5. 78.Chapter XV: That weak States are always dubious in their Resolves; and1,057 words
  6. 79.Chapter XVI: That the Soldiers of our days depart widely from the1,577 words
  7. 80.Chapter XVII: What importance the Armies of the present day should2,566 words
  8. 81.Chapter XVIII: That the authority of the Romans and the example of1,766 words
  9. 82.Chapter XIX: That Acquisitions made by ill-governed States and such as1,660 words
  10. 83.Chapter XX: Of the Dangers incurred by Princes or Republics who resort767 words
  11. 84.Chapter XXI: That Capua was the first City to which the Romans sent a819 words
  12. 85.Chapter XXII: That in matters of moment Men often judge amiss980 words
  13. 86.Chapter XXIII: That in chastising their Subjects when circumstances1,583 words
  14. 87.Chapter XXIV: That, commonly, Fortresses do much more Harm than Good2,918 words
  15. 88.Chapter XXV: That he who attacks a City divided against itself, must600 words
  16. 89.Chapter XXVI: That Taunts and Abuse breed Hatred against him who uses624 words
  17. 90.Chapter XXVII: That prudent Princes and Republics should be content to1,097 words
  18. 91.Chapter XXVIII: That to neglect the redress of Grievances, whether611 words
  19. 92.Chapter XXIX: That Fortune obscures the minds of Men when she would1,032 words
  20. 93.Chapter XXX: That really powerful Princes and, Commonwealths do not1,364 words
  21. 94.Chapter XXXI: Of the Danger of trusting banished Men490 words
  22. 95.Chapter XXXII: In how many Ways the Romans gained Possession of1,268 words
  23. 96.Chapter XXXIII: That the Romans intrusted the Captains of their Armies631 words
  24. 97.Chapter I: For a Sect or Commonwealth to last long, it must often be1,887 words
  25. 98.Chapter II: That on occasion it is wise to feign Folly569 words
  26. 99.Chapter III: That to preserve a newly acquired Freedom we must slay553 words
  27. 100.Chapter IV: That an Usurper is never safe in his Princedom while those383 words
  28. 101.Chapter V: How an Hereditary King may come to lose his Kingdom632 words
  29. 102.Chapter VI: Of Conspiracies8,762 words
  30. 103.Chapter VII: Why it is that changes from Freedom to Servitude, and324 words
  31. 104.Chapter VIII: That he who would effect Changes in a Commonwealth, must1,134 words
  32. 105.Chapter IX: That to enjoy constant good Fortune we must change with793 words
  33. 106.Chapter X: That a Captain cannot escape Battle when his Enemy forces1,570 words
  34. 107.Chapter XI: That one who has to contend with many, though he be weaker791 words
  35. 108.Chapter XII: A prudent Captain will do what he can to make it1,312 words
  36. 109.Chapter XIII: Whether we may trust more to a valiant Captain with a741 words
  37. 110.Chapter XIV: Of the effect produced in Battle by strange and1,019 words
  38. 111.Chapter XV: That one and not many should head an Army: and why it is566 words
  39. 112.Chapter XVI: That in Times of Difficulty true Worth is sought after;980 words
  40. 113.Chapter XVII: That we are not to offend a Man, and then send him to367 words
  41. 114.Chapter XVIII: That it is the highest Quality of a Captain to be able1,001 words
  42. 115.Chapter XIX: Whether Indulgence or Severity be more necessary for507 words
  43. 116.Chapter XX: How one humane act availed more with the men of Falerii,454 words
  44. 117.Chapter XXI: How it happened that Hannibal pursuing a course contrary937 words
  45. 118.Chapter XXII: That the severity of Manlius Torquatus and the1,980 words
  46. 119.Chapter XXIII: Why Camillus was banished from Rome390 words
  47. 120.Chapter XXIV: That prolonged Commands brought Rome to Servitude516 words
  48. 121.Chapter XXV: Of the poverty of Cincinnatus and of many other Roman729 words
  49. 122.Chapter XXVI: How Women are a cause of the ruin of States396 words
  50. 123.Chapter XXVII: How a divided City may be reunited, and how it is a993 words
  51. 124.Chapter XXVIII: That a Republic must keep an eye on what its Citizens561 words
  52. 125.Chapter XXIX: That the Faults of a People are due to its Prince453 words
  53. 126.Chapter XXX: That a Citizen who seeks by his personal influence to1,256 words
  54. 127.Chapter XXXI: That strong Republics and valiant Men preserve through1,368 words
  55. 128.Chapter XXXII: Of the methods which some have used to make Peace400 words
  56. 129.Chapter XXXIII: That to insure victory in battle you must inspire your808 words
  57. 130.Chapter XXXIV: By what reports, rumours, or surmises the Citizens of a1,389 words
  58. 131.Chapter XXXV: Of the Danger incurred in being the first to recommend886 words
  59. 132.Chapter XXXVI: Why it has been and still may be affirmed of the Gauls,767 words
  60. 133.Chapter XXXVII: Whether a general engagement should be preceded by1,120 words
  61. 134.Chapter XXXVIII: Of the Qualities of a Captain in whom his Soldiers506 words
  62. 135.Chapter XXXIX: That a Captain should have good knowledge of Places836 words
  63. 136.Chapter XL: That Fraud is fair in War422 words
  64. 137.Chapter XLI: That our Country is to be defended by Honour or by355 words
  65. 138.Chapter XLII: That Promises made on Compulsion are not to be401 words
  66. 139.Chapter XLIII: That Men born in the same Province retain through all648 words
  67. 140.Chapter XLIV: That where ordinary methods fail, Hardihood and Daring650 words
  68. 141.Chapter XLV: Whether in battle it is better to await and repel the232 words
  69. 142.Chapter XLVI: How the Characteristics of Families come to be338 words
  70. 143.Chapter XLVII: That love of his Country should lead a good Citizen to144 words
  71. 144.Chapter XLVIII: That on finding an Enemy make what seems a grave420 words
  72. 145.Chapter XLIX: That a Commonwealth to preserve its Freedom has constant644 words