Men Often Deceive themselves Believing that by Humility1 They Overcome Haughtiness2
Many times it is seen that humility not only does not benefit, but harms, especially when it is used by insolent3 men who, either from envy or for other reasons, have conceived a hatred4 against you. Of this our Historian gives proof on the occasion of the war between the Romans and the Latins. For when the Samnites complained to the Romans that the Latins had assaulted them, the Romans did not want to prohibit such a war to the Latins, desired not to irritate them; which not only did not irritate them, but made them become more spirited against them [Romans], and they discovered themselves as enemies more quickly. Of which, the words of the aforementioned Annius, the Latin Praetor, in that same council, attest5, where he says: You have tried their patience in denying them military aid: why do you doubt this should excite them? Yet they have borne this pain. They have heard we are preparing an army against their confederates, the Samnites, yet have not moved from their City. Whence is there such modesty6, except from their recognition of both our virility7 and theirs? It is very clearly recognized, therefore, by this text how much the patience of the Romans increased the arrogance8 of the Latins. And therefore a Prince ought never to forego his own rank, and ought never to forego anything by accord, wanting to forego it honorably, unless he is able or believes that he is able to hold it; for it is almost always better (matters having been brought to the point where you cannot forego it in the manner mentioned) to allow it to be taken away by force, rather than by fear of force; for if you permit it from fear, you do so in order to avoid war, but most of the times you do not avoid it, for he to whom you have from baseness conceded this, will not be satisfied, but will want to take other things away from you, and he will excite himself more against you esteeming9 you less: and on the other hand, in your favor you will find the defenders10 more cold, it appearing to them that you are either weak or a coward: but as soon as you discover the intention of the adversary11, if you prepare your forces, even though they may be inferior to his, he will begin to respect you, [and] the other neighboring Princes will respect you more, and the desire to aid you will come to those (being armed by you) who, even if you gave yourself up, would never aid you.
This is what is learned when you have an enemy: but when you have several, to render to some of them some of your possessions, either to gain him over to yourself even though war should already have broken out, or to detach your enemies from the other confederates, is always a prudent12 proceeding13.
1 humility | |
n.谦逊,谦恭 | |
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2 haughtiness | |
n.傲慢;傲气 | |
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3 insolent | |
adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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4 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
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5 attest | |
vt.证明,证实;表明 | |
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6 modesty | |
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
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7 virility | |
n.雄劲,丈夫气 | |
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8 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
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9 esteeming | |
v.尊敬( esteem的现在分词 );敬重;认为;以为 | |
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10 defenders | |
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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11 adversary | |
adj.敌手,对手 | |
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12 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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13 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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