Of Ambition

AMBITION is like choler; which is an humor

that maketh men active, earnest, full of alac-

rity, and stirring, if it be not stopped.  But if it be

stopped, and cannot have his way, it becometh

adust, and thereby malign and venomous.  So am-

bitious men, if they find the way open for their

rising, and still get forward, they are rather busy

than dangerous; but if they be checked in their

desires, they become secretly discontent, and look

upon men and matters with an evil eye, and are

best pleased, when things go backward; which is

the worst property in a servant of a prince, or state.

Therefore it is good for princes, if they use ambi-

tious men, to handle it, so as they be still progres-

sive and not retrograde; which, because it cannot

be without inconvenience, it is good not to use such

natures at all.  For if they rise not with their service,

they will take order, to make their service fall with

them.  But since we have said, it were good not to

use men of ambitious natures, except it be upon

necessity, it is fit we speak, in what cases they are

of necessity.  Good commanders in the wars must

be taken, be they never so ambitious; for the use

of their service, dispenseth with the rest; and to

take a soldier without ambition, is to pull off his

spurs.  There is also great use of ambitious men, in

being screens to princes in matters of danger and

envy; for no man will take that part, except he be

like a seeled dove, that mounts and mounts, be-

cause he cannot see about him.  There is use also of

ambitious men, in pulling down the greatness of

any subject that overtops; as Tiberius used Marco,

in the pulling down of Sejanus.  Since, therefore,

they must be used in such cases, there resteth to

speak, how they are to be bridled, that they may be

less dangerous.  There is less danger of them, if they

be of mean birth, than if they be noble; and if they

be rather harsh of nature, than gracious and popu-

lar: and if they be rather new raised, than grown

cunning, and fortified, in their greatness.  It is

counted by some, a weakness in princes, to have

favorites; but it is, of all others, the best remedy

against ambitious great-ones.  For when the way

of pleasuring, and displeasuring, lieth by the

favorite, it is impossible any other should be over-

great.  Another means to curb them, is to balance

them by others, as proud as they.  But then there

must be some middle counsellors, to keep things

steady; for without that ballast, the ship will roll

too much.  At the least, a prince may animate

and inure some meaner persons, to be as it were

scourges, to ambitions men.  As for the having of

them obnoxious to ruin; if they be of fearful

natures, it may do well; but if they be stout and

daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove

dangerous.  As for the pulling of them down, if the

affairs require it, and that it may not be done with

safety suddenly, the only way is the interchange,

continually, of favors and disgraces; whereby

they may not know what to expect, and be, as it

were, in a wood.  Of ambitions, it is less harmful,

the ambition to prevail in great things, than that

other, to appear in every thing; for that breeds

confusion, and mars business.  But yet it is less dan-

ger, to have an ambitious man stirring in business,

than great in dependences.  He that seeketh to be

eminent amongst able men, hath a great task; but

that is ever good for the public.  But he, that plots

to be the only figure amongst ciphers, is the decay

of a whole age.  Honor hath three things in it: the

vantage ground to do good; the approach to kings

and principal persons; and the raising of a man's

own fortunes.  He that hath the best of these inten-

tions, when he aspireth, is an honest man; and that

prince, that can discern of these intentions in an-

other that aspireth, is a wise prince.  Generally, let

princes and states choose such ministers, as are

more sensible of duty than of using; and such as

love business rather upon conscience, than upon

bravery, and let them discern a busy nature, from

a willing mind.