Question

. He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.

What is Machiavelli’s advice to a leader who is confronted with doing the virtuous thing or the thing that best assures survival?

Answer 1

In this passage, Machiavelli argues that if a man is faced with the decision of doing the virtuous thing or the thing that best assures survival, he should opt for the thing that assures survival. This is because the man who follows his virtue all the time is bound to be met with someone who does not. This would destroy the virtuous man, as his virtue would not be able to resist the attack of all the evil matters that exist in the world.

Answer 2

Machiavelli turns his attention to the rules effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil. When this is done correctly, he is "reproached" by his people but not "hated.