d even shouldaffairs outside be disturbed； if he has carried out his preparations andhas lived as I have said； as long as he does not despair； he will resistevery attack； as I said Nabis the Spartan did。But concerning his subjects； when affairs outside are disturbed he hasonly to fear that they will conspire secretly； from which a prince caneasily secure himself by avoiding being hated and despised； and bykeeping the people satisfied with him； which it is most necessary forhim to acplish； as I said above at length。 And one of the mostefficacious remedies that a prince can have against conspiracies is notto be hated and despised by the people； for he who conspires against aprince always expects to please them by his removal； but when theconspirator can only look forward to offending them； he will not havethe courage to take such a course； for the difficulties that confront aconspirator are infinite。 And as experience shows； many have been theconspiracies； but few have been successful； because he who conspirescannot act alone； nor can he take a panion except from those whom hebelieves to be malcontents； and as soon as you have opened your mind toa malcontent you have given him the material with which to contenthimself； for by denouncing you he can look for every advantage； so that；seeing the gain from this course to be assured； and seeing the other tobe doubtful and full of dangers； he must be a very rare friend； or athoroughly obstinate enemy of the prince； to keep faith w