《君主论·第十六章·慷慨与吝啬》第1节
Commencing then with the first of the above-named characteristics, I say that it would be well to be reputed liberal. Nevertheless, liberality exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it, injures you; for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be exercised, it may not become known, and you will not avoid the reproach of its opposite. Therefore, any one wishing to maintain among men the name of liberal is obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence; so that a prince thus inclined will consume in such acts all his property, and will be compelled in the end, if he wish to maintain the name of liberal, to unduly weigh down his people, and tax them, and do everything he can to get money. This will soon make him odious to his subjects, and becoming poor he will be little valued by any one; thus, with his liberality, having offended many and rewarded few, he is affected by the very first trouble and imperilled by whatever may be the first danger; recognizing this himself, and wishing to draw back from it, he runs at once into the reproach of being miserly. Therefore, a prince, not being able to exercise this virtue of liberality in such a way that it is recognized, except to his cost, if he is wise he ought not to fear the reputation of being mean, for in time he will come to be more considered than if liberal, seeing that with his economy his revenues are enough, that he can defend himself against all attacks, and is able to engage in enterprises without burdening his people; thus it comes to pass that he exercises liberality towards all from whom he does not take, who are numberless, and meanness towards those to whom he does not give, who are few.
注释摘要
这一段的论证从一组看似矛盾的命题切入：被人视为慷慨当然是好事，然而如果以不带来名声的方式慷慨，反而对自己有害。马基雅维利的推理很冷酷：一位君主若是行事真正有分寸、有克制地慷慨，这种慷慨往往悄无声息，根本不会被大众当作慷慨来传颂，结果他一样躲不掉吝啬的指责。于是，谁想要长久保住慷慨的名声，就不得不追求一切奢华的排场，竭力向世人展示自己的大方。这样他很快就会耗…