Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 1


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In "Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius", posthumous work by the author of The Prince, Machiavelli discusses the useful lessons that could be learnt from the past for his present. As the title mentions, the subject of the work is the first ten books of Livy's Ab urbe condita, which cover the expansion of Rome from the legendary monarchy of Romulus to the end of the Third Samnite War (293 BCE). The whole work contains three books, with 142 numbered chapters - perhaps not a coincidence, since Livy's history also contained 142 books. In the first book, the author discusses things that happened inside of Rome as the result of public counsel. - Summary by Leni (6 hr 6 min)

Chapitres

Preface 8:32 Lu par Pamela Nagami
CHAPTER I.Of the Beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular of that of Rome 11:10 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER II. Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them the Roman Commonwealth belonged. 17:08 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER III. Of the Accidents which led in Rome to the creation of Tribunes of the People; whereby the Republic was made more perfect. 3:44 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER IV. That the Dissensions between the Senate and Commons of Rome, made Rome free and powerful. 5:52 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER V. Whether the Guardianship of public Freedom is safer in the hands of the Commons or of the Nobles; and whether those who seek to acquire Power or they who seek to maintain it are the greater cause of Commotions. 7:45 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER VI. Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a Government as would have composed the Differences between the Commons and the Senate. 14:45 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER VII. That to preserve Liberty in a State there must exist the Right to accuse. 9:13 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER VIII. That Calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the power to accuse is useful. 8:26 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER IX. That to give new Institutions to a Commonwealth, or to reconstruct old Institutions on an entirely new basis, must be the work of one Man. 8:02 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER X. That in proportion as the Founder of a Kingdom or Commonwealth merits Praise, he who founds a Tyranny deserves Blame. 10:21 Lu par Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER XI. Of the Religion of the Romans. 7:10 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XII. That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and that Italy, through the Roman Church, being wanting therein, has been ruined. 6:33 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XIII. Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving Institutions to their City, in carrying out their Enterprises, and in quelling Tumults. 5:11 Lu par Brad Murphy
CHAPTER XIV. That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the occasion; and made a prudent show of observing the Rites of Religion even when forced to disregard them; and any who rashly slighted Religion they punished. 4:15 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XV. How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken Fortunes, had recourse to Religion. 4:04 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XVI. That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by any accident it become free, can hardly preserve that Freedom. 9:03 Lu par Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XVII. That a corrupt People obtaining Freedom can hardly preserve it. 6:01 Lu par Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XVIII. How a Free Government existing in a corrupt City may be preserved, or not existing may be created. 9:04 Lu par Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XIX. After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself: but after one weak Prince no Kingdom can stand a second. 4:53 Lu par Eva Staes
CHAPTER XX. That the consecutive Reigns of two valiant Princes produce great results: and that well-ordered Commonwealths are assured of a Succession of valiant Rulers by whom their Power and Growth are rapidly extended. 1:58 Lu par Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXI. That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a Commonwealth to be without a national Army. 3:36 Lu par Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXII. What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman Horatii and the three Alban Curiatii. 2:34 Lu par Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXIII. That we should never hazard our whole Fortunes where we put not forth our entire Strength; for which reason to guard a Defile is often hurtful. 5:26 Lu par Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXIV. That well-ordered States always provide Rewards and Punishments for their Citizens; and never set off Deserts against Misdeeds. 4:42 Lu par Lucretia B.
CHAPTER XXV. That he who would reform the Institutions of a free State, must retain at least the semblance of old Ways. 3:38 Lu par Lucretia B.
CHAPTER XXVI. A new Prince in a City or Province of which he has taken Possession, ought to make Everything new. 2:35 Lu par Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XXVII. That Men seldom know how to be wholly good or wholly bad. 3:08 Lu par Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XXVIII. Whence it came that the Romans were less ungrateful to their Citizens than were the Athenians. 3:34 Lu par Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XXIX. Whether a People or a Prince is the more ungrateful. 9:23 Lu par jenno
CHAPTER XXX. How Princes and Commonwealths may avoid the vice of Ingratitude; and how a Captain or Citizen may escape being undone by it. 5:31 Lu par jenno
CHAPTER XXXI. That the Roman Captains were never punished with extreme severity for Misconduct; and where loss resulted to the Republic merely through their Ignorance or Want of Judgment, were not punished at all. 4:11 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XXXII. That a Prince or Commonwealth should not delay conferring Benefits until they are themselves in difficulties. 2:53 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XXXIII. When a Mischief has grown up in, or against a State, it is safer to temporize with than to meet it with Violence. 6:28 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XXXIV. That the authority of the Dictator did good and not harm to the Roman Republic: and that it is not those Powers which are given by the free suffrages of the People, but those which ambitious Citizens usurp for themselves, that are pernicious to a State. 8:19 Lu par jenno
CHAPTER XXXV. Why the Creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, although brought about by the free and open Suffrage of the Citizens, was hurtful to the Liberties of that Republic 5:09 Lu par jenno
CHAPTER XXXVI. That Citizens who have held the higher Offices of a Commonwealth should not disdain the lower. 3:20 Lu par jenno
CHAPTER XXXVII. Of the Mischief bred in Rome by the Agrarian Law: and how it is a great source of disorder in a Commonwealth to pass a Law opposed to ancient Usage and with stringent retrospective Effect. 10:01 Lu par jenno
CHAPTER XXXVIII. That weak Republics are irresolute and undecided; and that the course they may take depends more on Necessity than Choice. 6:48 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XXXIX. That often the same Accidents are seen to befall different Nations. 4:21 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XL. Of the creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, and what therein is to be noted. Wherein among other Matters is shown how the same Causes may lead to the Safety or to the Ruin of a Commonwealth. 12:56 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XLI. That it is unwise to pass at a bound from leniency to severity, or to a haughty bearing from a humble. 2:12 Lu par Ann Boulais
CHAPTER XLII. How easily Men become corrupted. 1:34 Lu par Eva Staes
CHAPTER XLIII. That Men fighting in their own Cause make good and resolute Soldiers. 2:21 Lu par Ann Boulais
CHAPTER XLIV. That the Multitude is helpless without a Head: and that we should not with the same breath threaten and ask leave. 2:55 Lu par Ann Boulais
CHAPTER XLV. That it is of evil example, especially in the Maker of a Law, not to observe the Law when made: and that daily to renew acts of injustice in a City is most hurtful to the Governor. 4:28 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XLVI. That Men climb from one step of Ambition to another, seeking at first to escape Injury and then to injure others. 4:02 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XLVII. That though Men deceive themselves in Generalities, in Particulars they judge truly. 7:54 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XLVIII. He who would not have an Office bestowed on some worthless or wicked Person, should contrive that it be solicited by one who is utterly worthless and wicked, or else by one who is in the highest degree noble and good. 1:33 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER XLIX. That if Cities which, like Rome, had their beginning in Freedom, have had difficulty in framing such Laws as would preserve their Freedom, Cities which at the first have been in Subjection will find this almost impossible. 5:50 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER L. That neither any Council nor any Magistrate should have power to bring the Government of a City to a stay. 3:05 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER LI. What a Prince or Republic does of Necessity, should seem to be done by Choice. 2:04 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER LII. That to check the arrogance of a Citizen who is growing too powerful in a State, there is no safer Method, or less open to objection, than to forestall him in those Ways whereby he seeks to advance himself. 5:28 Lu par Hypatia
CHAPTER LIII. That the People, deceived by a false show of Advantage, often desire what would be their Ruin; and that large Hopes and brave Promises easily move them. 8:49 Lu par Hypatia
CHAPTER LIV. Of the boundless Authority which a great Man may use to restrain an excited Multitude. 3:00 Lu par Hypatia
CHAPTER LV. That Government is easily carried on in a City wherein the body of the People is not corrupted: and that a Princedom is impossible where Equality prevails, and a Republic where it does not. 10:24 Lu par merendo07
CHAPTER LVI. That when great Calamities are about to befall a City or Country, Signs are seen to presage, and Seers arise who foretell them. 2:58 Lu par Hypatia
CHAPTER LVII. That the People are strong collectively, but individually weak. 3:29 Lu par Eva Staes
CHAPTER LVIII. That a People is wiser and more constant than a Prince 12:49 Lu par Eva Staes
CHAPTER LIX. To what Leagues or Alliances we may most trust; whether those we make with Commonwealths or those we make with Princes. 5:39 Lu par Hypatia
CHAPTER LX. That the Consulship and all the other Magistracies in Rome were given without respect to Age. 3:43 Lu par Hypatia