We cannot establish a comparison between men who are armed, and those who are not so: and it would be equally absurd to suppose that the disarmed should command, and the others obey. A prince who is ignorant of the art of war, can never enjoy repose or safety amongst armed subjects; those will always despise him, and will justly be suspected by him; how is it possible then they should act in concert? In short, a prince who does not understand the art of war can never be esteemed by his troops, nor can he ever confide in them.
There is a necessity therefore that princes should pay their whole attention to the art of war, which includes mental labour and study as well as the military exercise. To begin with the latter, the prince should take the utmost care that his troops be well disciplined, and regularly exercised. The chase is the best adapted to inure him to fatigue, and to all the intemperances of the weather. This exercise will also teach him to observe the sources and situations, as well as the nature of rivers and marshes; to measure the extent of plains, and the declivity of mountains. By these means he will acquire a knowledge of the topography of a country which he has to defend, and will easily habituate himself to select the places where war may be best carried on. For the plain and vallies of Tuscany, for instance, resemble more or less those of other countries. I have said thus much of
