ficulty；　but　they　it　with　ease。　The　difficultiesthey　have　in　acquiring　it　arise　in　part　from　the　new　rules　and　methodswhich　they　are　forced　to　introduce　to　establish　their　government　and　itssecurity。　And　it　ought　to　be　remembered　that　there　is　nothing　moredifficult　to　take　in　hand；　more　perilous　to　conduct；　or　more　uncertainin　its　success；　than　to　take　the　lead　in　the　introduction　of　a　new　orderof　things。　Because　the　innovator　has　for　enemies　all　those　who　have　donewell　under　the　old　conditions；　and　lukewarm　defenders　in　those　who　maydo　well　under　the　new。　This　coolness　arises　partly　from　fear　of　theopponents；　who　have　the　laws　on　their　side；　and　partly　from　theincredulity　of　men；　who　do　not　readily　believe　in　new　things　until　theyhave　had　a　long　experience　of　them。　Thus　it　happens　that　whenever　thosewho　are　hostile　have　the　opportunity　to　attack　they　do　it　likepartisans；　whilst　the　others　defend　lukewarmly；　in　such　wise　that　theprince　is　endangered　along　with　them。It　is　necessary；　therefore；　if　we　desire　to　discuss　this　matterthoroughly；　to　inquire　whether　these　innovators　can　rely　on　themselvesor　have　to　depend　on　others：　that　is　to　say；　whether；　to　consummatetheir　enterprise；　have　they　to　use　prayers　or　can　they　use　force？　In　thefirst　instance　they　always　succeed　badly；　and　never　pass　anything；but　when　they　can　rely　on　themselves　and　use　force；　then　they　are　rarelyendangered。　Hence　it　is　that　all　armed　prophets　have　conquered；　and　theunarmed　ones　have　been　destroyed。　Besides　the　reasons　mentioned；　thenature　of　the　people　is　variable；　and　whilst　it　is　easy　to　persuadethem；　it　is　difficult　to　fix　them　in　that　persuasion。　And　thus　it　isnecessary　to　take　such　measures　that；　when　they　believe　no　longer；　itmay　be　possible　to　make　them　believe　by　force。If　Moses；　Cyrus；　Thes