He should be especially careful of his
behavior to men who are lovers of honor; for as the lovers of money
are offended when their property is touched, so are the lovers of
honor and the virtuous when their honor is affected. Therefore a
tyrant ought either not to commit such acts at all; or he should be
thought only to employ fatherly correction, and not to trample upon
others- and his acquaintance with youth should be supposed to arise
from affection, and not from the insolence of power, and in general he
should compensate the appearance of dishonor by the increase of honor.
Of those who attempt assassination they are the most dangerous,
and require to be most carefully watched, who do not care to
survive, if they effect their purpose. Therefore special precaution
should be taken about any who think that either they or those for whom
they care have been insulted; for when men are led away by passion
to assault others they are regardless of themselves. As Heracleitus
says, 'It is difficult to fight against anger; for a man will buy
revenge with his soul.'
And whereas states consist of two classes, of poor men and of
rich, the tyrant should lead both to imagine that they are preserved
and prevented from harming one another by his rule, and whichever of
the two is stronger he should attach to his government; for, having
this advantage, he has no need either to emancipate slaves or to
disarm the citizens; either party added to the force which he
already has, will make him stronger than his assailants.
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