Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 1
Niccolò Machiavelli
61 chapters · 6 h 6 min · English
Read by Pamela Nagami, Dave Gillespie, merendo07, Brad Murphy, Ciufi Galeazzi, Eva Staes and others
Political Science · History
Play ☆ Favorite
In "Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius", posthumous work by the author of The Prince, Machiavelli discusses the useful lessons that could be learnt from the past for his present. As the title mentions, the subject of the work is the first ten books of Livy's Ab urbe condita , which cover the expansion of Rome from the legendary monarchy of Romulus to the end of the Third Samnite War (293 BCE). The whole work contains three books, with 142 numbered chapters - perhaps not a coincidence, since Livy's history also contained 142 books. In the first book, the author discusses things that happened inside of Rome as the result of public counsel. - Summary by Leni
Chapters
1 Preface 9 min 2 CHAPTER I.Of the Beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular of that of Rome 11 min 3 CHAPTER II. Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them the Roman Commonwealth belonged 17 min 4 CHAPTER III. Of the Accidents which led in Rome to the creation of Tribunes of the People; whereby the Republic was made more perfect 4 min 5 CHAPTER IV. That the Dissensions between the Senate and Commons of Rome, made Rome free and powerful 6 min 6 CHAPTER V. Whether the Guardianship of public Freedom is safer in the hands of the Commons or of the Nobles; and whether those who seek to acquire Power or they who seek to maintain it are the greater cause of Commotions 8 min 7 CHAPTER VI. Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a Government as would have composed the Differences between the Commons and the Senate 15 min 8 CHAPTER VII. That to preserve Liberty in a State there must exist the Right to accuse 9 min 9 CHAPTER VIII. That Calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the power to accuse is useful 8 min 10 CHAPTER IX. That to give new Institutions to a Commonwealth, or to reconstruct old Institutions on an entirely new basis, must be the work of one Man 8 min 11 CHAPTER X. That in proportion as the Founder of a Kingdom or Commonwealth merits Praise, he who founds a Tyranny deserves Blame 10 min 12 CHAPTER XI. Of the Religion of the Romans 7 min 13 CHAPTER XII. That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and that Italy, through the Roman Church, being wanting therein, has been ruined 7 min 14 CHAPTER XIII. Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving Institutions to their City, in carrying out their Enterprises, and in quelling Tumults 5 min 15 CHAPTER XIV. That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the occasion; and made a prudent show of observing the Rites of Religion even when forced to disregard them; and any who rashly slighted Religion they punished 4 min 16 CHAPTER XV. How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken Fortunes, had recourse to Religion 4 min 17 CHAPTER XVI. That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by any accident it become free, can hardly preserve that Freedom 9 min 18 CHAPTER XVII. That a corrupt People obtaining Freedom can hardly preserve it 6 min 19 CHAPTER XVIII. How a Free Government existing in a corrupt City may be preserved, or not existing may be created 9 min 20 CHAPTER XIX. After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself: but after one weak Prince no Kingdom can stand a second 5 min 21 CHAPTER XX. That the consecutive Reigns of two valiant Princes produce great results: and that well-ordered Commonwealths are assured of a Succession of valiant Rulers by whom their Power and Growth are rapidly extended 2 min 22 CHAPTER XXI. That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a Commonwealth to be without a national Army 4 min 23 CHAPTER XXII. What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman Horatii and the three Alban Curiatii 3 min 24 CHAPTER XXIII. That we should never hazard our whole Fortunes where we put not forth our entire Strength; for which reason to guard a Defile is often hurtful 5 min 25 CHAPTER XXIV. That well-ordered States always provide Rewards and Punishments for their Citizens; and never set off Deserts against Misdeeds 5 min 26 CHAPTER XXV. That he who would reform the Institutions of a free State, must retain at least the semblance of old Ways 4 min 27 CHAPTER XXVI. A new Prince in a City or Province of which he has taken Possession, ought to make Everything new 3 min 28 CHAPTER XXVII. That Men seldom know how to be wholly good or wholly bad 3 min 29 CHAPTER XXVIII. Whence it came that the Romans were less ungrateful to their Citizens than were the Athenians 4 min 30 CHAPTER XXIX. Whether a People or a Prince is the more ungrateful 9 min 31 CHAPTER XXX. How Princes and Commonwealths may avoid the vice of Ingratitude; and how a Captain or Citizen may escape being undone by it 6 min 32 CHAPTER XXXI. That the Roman Captains were never punished with extreme severity for Misconduct; and where loss resulted to the Republic merely through their Ignorance or Want of Judgment, were not punished at all 4 min 33 CHAPTER XXXII. That a Prince or Commonwealth should not delay conferring Benefits until they are themselves in difficulties 3 min 34 CHAPTER XXXIII. When a Mischief has grown up in, or against a State, it is safer to temporize with than to meet it with Violence 6 min 35 CHAPTER XXXIV. That the authority of the Dictator did good and not harm to the Roman Republic: and that it is not those Powers which are given by the free suffrages of the People, but those which ambitious Citizens usurp for themselves, that are pernicious to a State 8 min 36 CHAPTER XXXV. Why the Creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, although brought about by the free and open Suffrage of the Citizens, was hurtful to the Liberties of that Republic 5 min 37 CHAPTER XXXVI. That Citizens who have held the higher Offices of a Commonwealth should not disdain the lower 3 min 38 CHAPTER XXXVII. Of the Mischief bred in Rome by the Agrarian Law: and how it is a great source of disorder in a Commonwealth to pass a Law opposed to ancient Usage and with stringent retrospective Effect 10 min 39 CHAPTER XXXVIII. That weak Republics are irresolute and undecided; and that the course they may take depends more on Necessity than Choice 7 min 40 CHAPTER XXXIX. That often the same Accidents are seen to befall different Nations 4 min 41 CHAPTER XL. Of the creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, and what therein is to be noted. Wherein among other Matters is shown how the same Causes may lead to the Safety or to the Ruin of a Commonwealth 13 min 42 CHAPTER XLI. That it is unwise to pass at a bound from leniency to severity, or to a haughty bearing from a humble 2 min 43 CHAPTER XLII. How easily Men become corrupted 2 min 44 CHAPTER XLIII. That Men fighting in their own Cause make good and resolute Soldiers 2 min 45 CHAPTER XLIV. That the Multitude is helpless without a Head: and that we should not with the same breath threaten and ask leave 3 min 46 CHAPTER XLV. That it is of evil example, especially in the Maker of a Law, not to observe the Law when made: and that daily to renew acts of injustice in a City is most hurtful to the Governor 4 min 47 CHAPTER XLVI. That Men climb from one step of Ambition to another, seeking at first to escape Injury and then to injure others 4 min 48 CHAPTER XLVII. That though Men deceive themselves in Generalities, in Particulars they judge truly 8 min 49 CHAPTER XLVIII. He who would not have an Office bestowed on some worthless or wicked Person, should contrive that it be solicited by one who is utterly worthless and wicked, or else by one who is in the highest degree noble and good 2 min 50 CHAPTER XLIX. That if Cities which, like Rome, had their beginning in Freedom, have had difficulty in framing such Laws as would preserve their Freedom, Cities which at the first have been in Subjection will find this almost impossible 6 min 51 CHAPTER L. That neither any Council nor any Magistrate should have power to bring the Government of a City to a stay 3 min 52 CHAPTER LI. What a Prince or Republic does of Necessity, should seem to be done by Choice 2 min 53 CHAPTER LII. That to check the arrogance of a Citizen who is growing too powerful in a State, there is no safer Method, or less open to objection, than to forestall him in those Ways whereby he seeks to advance himself 5 min 54 CHAPTER LIII. That the People, deceived by a false show of Advantage, often desire what would be their Ruin; and that large Hopes and brave Promises easily move them 9 min 55 CHAPTER LIV. Of the boundless Authority which a great Man may use to restrain an excited Multitude 3 min 56 CHAPTER LV. That Government is easily carried on in a City wherein the body of the People is not corrupted: and that a Princedom is impossible where Equality prevails, and a Republic where it does not 10 min 57 CHAPTER LVI. That when great Calamities are about to befall a City or Country, Signs are seen to presage, and Seers arise who foretell them 3 min 58 CHAPTER LVII. That the People are strong collectively, but individually weak 3 min 59 CHAPTER LVIII. That a People is wiser and more constant than a Prince 13 min 60 CHAPTER LIX. To what Leagues or Alliances we may most trust; whether those we make with Commonwealths or those we make with Princes 6 min 61 CHAPTER LX. That the Consulship and all the other Magistracies in Rome were given without respect to Age 4 min
