From these causes it arose that Marcus, Pertinax, and Alexander, being… — The Prince

The Prince — Niccolò Machiavelli

From these causes it arose that Marcus, Pertinax, and Alexander, being all men of modest life, lovers of justice, enemies to cruelty, humane, and benignant, came to a sad end except Marcus; he alone lived and died honoured, because he had succeeded to the throne by hereditary title, and owed nothing either to the soldiers or the people; and afterwards, being possessed of many virtues which made him respected, he always kept both orders in their places whilst he lived, and was neither hated nor despised.

Place: CHAPTER XIX -- THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED · ¶244
License: Public domain · Source
The text is given as in the edition, unedited.

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