roduced any man with the power and knowledge which would
have enabled him to act in this way.

From what has been said, it follows, that he who would found a
commonwealth in a country wherein there are many gentlemen, cannot do so
unless he first gets rid of them; and that he who would found a monarchy
or princedom in a country wherein great equality prevails, will never
succeed, unless he raise above the level of that equality many persons
of a restless and ambitious temperament, whom he must make gentlemen not
in name merely but in reality, by conferring on them castles and lands,
supplying them with riches, and providing them with retainers; that with
these gentlemen around him, and with their help, he may maintain his
power, while they through him may gratify their ambition; all others
being constrained to endure a yoke, which force and force alone imposes
on them. For when in this way there comes to be a proportion between him
who uses force and him against whom it is used, each stands fixed in his
own station.

But to found a commonwealth in a country suited for a kingdom, or a
kingdom in a country suited to be a commonwealth, requires so rare a
combination of intelligence and power, that though many engage in the
attempt, few are found to succeed. For the greatness of the undertaking
quickly daunts them, and so obstructs their advance they break down at
the very outset. The case of the Venetian Republic, wherein none save
gentlemen are permitted to hold any public office, does, doubtless, seem
opposed to this opinion of mine that where there are gentlemen it is
impossible to found a commonwealth. But it may be answered that the
case of Venice is not in truth an instance to the contrary; since the
gentlemen of Venice are gentlemen rather in name than in reality,
inasmuch as they draw no great revenues from lands, their wealth
consisting chiefly in merchandise and chattels, and not one of them
possessing a castle or enjoying any feudal authority. For in Venice this
name of gentleman is a title of honour and dignity, and does not depend
on any of those circumstances in respect of which the name is given in
other States. But as in other States the different ranks and classes are
divided under different names, so in Venice we have the division
into gentlemen (_gentiluomini_) and plebeians (_popolani_), it being
understood that the former hold, or have the right to hold all
situations of honour, from which the latter