《君主论·第十章·如何衡量君主国的实力》第3节
Further, the enemy would naturally on his arrival at once burn and ruin the country at the time when the spirits of the people are still hot and ready for the defence; and, therefore, so much the less ought the prince to hesitate; because after a time, when spirits have cooled, the damage is already done, the ills are incurred, and there is no longer any remedy; and therefore they are so much the more ready to unite with their prince, he appearing to be under obligations to them now that their houses have been burnt and their possessions ruined in his defence. For it is the nature of men to be bound by the benefits they confer as much as by those they receive. Therefore, if everything is well considered, it will not be difficult for a wise prince to keep the minds of his citizens steadfast from first to last, when he does not fail to support and defend them.
注释摘要
这里马基雅维利在进行一个颇为冷峻的心理推演，他要回应的是一个很实际的质疑：如果敌人来了就把城外的房屋和财产烧光，那城镇居民岂不是会因为心疼损失而迁怒于君主，进而动摇守城的决心？这是当时意大利城邦战争中极为常见的场景，围城的一方往往会焚毁乡村，一则掠夺物资、二则打击士气。而马基雅维利的回答彻底逆转了这个逻辑，他认为恰恰是这种破坏，反而会成为君主把臣民跟自己更…