Discourses on Livy

What it's about

Machiavelli's longer and more searching book, a commentary on the early history of Rome that asks how republics are founded, kept free and kept from decay. Where The Prince advises one ruler, the Discourses make the case for liberty, mixed government and citizen armies.

Who it's for

- Readers of The Prince who want the rest of Machiavelli - Anyone interested in how free governments last - Students of political theory and Roman history

What’s inside

1. 1

   BOOK I.

   3 min
2. 2

   CHAPTER I.—_Of the Beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular

   7 min
3. 3

   CHAPTER II.—Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them

   10 min
4. 4

   CHAPTER III.—Of the Accidents which led in Rome to the creation of

   2 min
5. 5

   CHAPTER IV.—That the Dissensions between the Senate and Commons of

   3 min
6. 6

   CHAPTER V.—_Whether the Guardianship of public Freedom is safer in the

   5 min
7. 7

   CHAPTER VI.—_Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a

   9 min
8. 8

   CHAPTER VII.—_That to preserve Liberty in a State there must exist the

   5 min
9. 9

   CHAPTER VIII.—_That Calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the

   5 min
10. 10

    CHAPTER IX.—_That to give new Institutions to a Commonwealth, or to

    5 min
11. 11

    CHAPTER X.—_That in proportion as the Founder of a Kingdom or

    6 min
12. 12

    CHAPTER XI.—_Of the Religion of the Romans._

    5 min
13. 13

    CHAPTER XII.—That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and

    5 min
14. 14

    CHAPTER XIII.—_Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving

    4 min
15. 15

    CHAPTER XIV.—_That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the

    3 min
16. 16

    CHAPTER XV.—_How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken

    3 min
17. 17

    CHAPTER XVI.—_That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by

    6 min
18. 18

    CHAPTER XVII.—_That a corrupt People obtaining Freedom can hardly

    4 min
19. 19

    CHAPTER XVIII.—_How a Free Government existing in a corrupt City may be

    6 min
20. 20

    CHAPTER XIX.—_After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself:

    3 min
21. 21

    CHAPTER XX.—_That the consecutive Reigns of two valiant Princes produce

    1 min
22. 22

    CHAPTER XXI.—_That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a

    2 min
23. 23

    CHAPTER XXII.—_What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman

    1 min
24. 24

    CHAPTER XXIII.—_That we should never hazard our whole Fortunes where we

    4 min

Showing the first 24 of 144 chapters — open the book for the rest.

What readers say

Read next

Summary

Dark MoneyJane MayerSummary9 min

PoliticsAristotle

PoliticsAristotleFull book

Second Treatise of GovernmentJohn Locke

Second Treatise of GovernmentJohn LockeFull book

On the Duty of Civil DisobedienceHenry David Thoreau

On the Duty of Civil DisobedienceHenry David ThoreauFull book

Reflections on the Revolution in FranceEdmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in FranceEdmund BurkeFull book

Summary

EvictedMatthew DesmondSummary11 min