Because men, when they receive good from him of whom they were expecting evil, are bound more closely to their benefactor; thus the people quickly become more devoted to him than if he had been raised to the principality by their favours; and the prince can win their affections in many ways, but as these vary according to the circumstances one cannot give fixed rules, so I omit them; but, I repeat, it is necessary for a prince to have the people friendly, otherwise he has no security in adversity.
És ha az emberek jót kapnak onnan, ahonnan rosszat vártak, szívesebben elkötelezik magukat jótevőjüknek; s a nép rögtön jobban fogja támogatni, mintha az ő kegyéből került volna uralomra. Sokféle módon keresheti a nép kegyét az uralkodó, de ezek tárgyuk szerint változván, rendszerbe nem foglalhatók, így hát elhagyom őket.