Page:The Prince.djvu/323

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

208

APPENDIX.

[H.]

He that would wish for success, must act in unison with the times.

I HAVE frequently thought, that the cause of every man's success in life is owing to the tem- perature of his mind in conformity to the times in which he lives. We see people, on the one hand, acting with great impetuosity of disposition, and others, on the contrary, with more art and cau- tion, and yet both may be in error for want of mo- derate compliance in observing their just bounds; but their misfortunes are least whose conduct best suits with the times. Every person in the least ac- quainted with history must recollect how Fabius Maximus led forward his army, with what steadi- ness and caution he proceeded, how differently he acted from the heat and boldness of the ancient Ro- mans; and it so turned out that his deliberate way was most conformable to those times; for Hannibal, young and ardent, coming into Italy, and puffed up with his good fortune, in having twice over- come the Roman armies, that commonwealth