The Prince (Byerley)/Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Of Ministers.
One of the most important points, and which is a sure index to the degree of wisdom possessed by those who govern, is the choice of ministers. A prince who knows where rightly to place his confidence is no ordinary man; hence it is by this rule we judge of him, his other talents being only to be ascertained from the casualty of circumstances, which occasionally call them into action. Those who knew Antonio de Venafro could not refuse to render justice to the judgment and wisdom of Pandolpho Petrucci, who made choice of so able a man for the administration of his affairs. (Vide Appendix F)
Now we may divide the human mind into three classes: of the first are those who know how to ascertain whatever is important for them to know; of the second class are those who easily discern what is pointed out to them by another; the third class neither understand of themselves, nor with the assistance of others. The first are excellent, the second are good, and the others worth nothing at all. Pandolpho belonged at least to the second class; for when a prince knows how to distinguish that which is useful from that which is injurious, he may, without being a man of genius, judge of the conduct of his ministers, and praise or blame it with such discretion, that they; being convinced they cannot deceive him, serve him with zeal and fidelity.
But how are princes to know their ministers? there is oneinfallible method:-it is to observe whether he attends more to his own interest than that of the state. A minister ought to be entirely devoted to the public service, and ought never to address the prince on his particular affairs. It is the part of the prince to attend to the interests of the minister, who, as it were, forgets himself, and to heap fortune and honours upon him: by this means he will remove the idea from the mind of his minister, of seeking riches and honours independent of his prince's bounty; nay, more, he will dread, and endeavour with all his power to prevent, any fatal reverse which may threaten his master. And this is the only method of establishing between a prince and his ministers a confidence equally useful and honourable to both.