《君主论·第六章·凭自己的武力与能力获得的新君主国》第1节
Let no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state; because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate. A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach. I say, therefore, that in entirely new principalities, where there is a new prince, more or less difficulty is found in keeping them, accordingly as there is more or less ability in him who has acquired the state. Now, as the fact of becoming a prince from a private station presupposes either ability or fortune, it is clear that one or other of these things will mitigate in some degree many difficulties. Nevertheless, he who has relied least on fortune is established the strongest. Further, it facilitates matters when the prince, having no other state, is compelled to reside there in person.
注释摘要
马基雅维利在这一段开篇做了一个自我辩护，为的是让他接下来要举的那些崇高范例显得合理。他预料到读者可能会奇怪：你明明在谈全新的君主国，为什么要搬出摩西、居鲁士、罗慕路斯、提修斯这些半神半人的最伟大人物来讨论？他的解释是，人几乎总是在别人走过的路上走，靠模仿他人的事迹来行动，然而却没有人能走得和别人完全一样，或者达到被模仿者那样的高度。既然如此，一个明智的人就…