07 May Niccolo Machiavelli: “Fortune is the arbiter of one-half of our actions”
t is not unknown to me how many men have had, and
still have, the opinion that the affairs of the world are in
such wise governed by fortune and by God that men with
their wisdom cannot direct them and that no one can even
help them; and because of this they would have us believe
that it is not necessary to labour much in affairs, but to let
chance govern them. This opinion has been more credited
in our times because of the great changes in affairs which
have been seen, and may still be seen, every day, beyond all
human conjecture. Sometimes pondering over this, I am in
some degree inclined to their opinion. Nevertheless, not to
extinguish our free will, I hold it to be true that Fortune is
the arbiter of one-half of our actions,[*] but that she still
leaves us to direct the other half, or perhaps a little less.
I compare her to one of those raging rivers, which when
in flood overflows the plains, sweeping away trees and
buildings, bearing away the soil from place to place; every-
thing flies before it, all yield to its violence, without being
able in any way to withstand it; and yet, though its nature
be such, it does not follow therefore that men, when the
weather becomes fair, shall not make provision, both with
defences and barriers, in such a manner that, rising again,
the waters may pass away by canal, and their force be nei-
ther so unrestrained nor so dangerous. So it happens with
fortune, who shows her power where valour has not pre-
pared to resist her, and thither she turns her forces where
she knows that barriers and defences have not been raised
to constrain her.
I conclude, therefore that, fortune being changeful and
mankind steadfast in their ways, so long as the two are in
agreement men are successful, but unsuccessful when they
fall out. For my part I consider that it is better to be adven-
turous than cautious, because fortune is a woman, and if
you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill-
use her; and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered
by the adventurous rather than by those who go to work
more coldly. She is, therefore, always, woman-like, a lover
of young men, because they are less cautious, more violent,
and with more audacity command her.
The prince
Niccolo Machiavelli
