The Prince: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Niccolò Machiavelli uses again and again in The Prince that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
prince/ˈpɹɪns/185× in the book
Those who strive to obtain the good graces of a prince are accustomed to come before him with such things as they hold most precious, or in which they see him take most delight …
duke/ˈduk/63× in the book
Machiavelli never hesitates to cite the actions of the duke for the benefit of usurpers who wish to keep the states they have seized; he can …
principality/ˌpɹɪnsɪˈpæɫɪti/44× in the book
All states, all powers, that have held and hold rule over men have been and are either republics or principalities.
whilst/ˈwaɪɫst/38× in the book
… their chief aim was to appear well dressed and to speak with wit and acuteness, whilst he who could wound others the most cleverly was thought the wisest.”
ruin/ˈɹuən/38× in the book
Julius did not rest until he had ruined Cesare.
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/37× in the book
… after acquiring rebellious provinces a second time, they are not so lightly lost afterwards, because the prince …
kingdom/ˈkɪŋdəm/33× in the book
… members annexed to the hereditary state of the prince who has acquired them, as was the kingdom of Naples to that of the King of Spain.
infantry/ˈɪnfəntɹi/32× in the book
… which may be as keys to that state, for it is necessary either to do this or else to keep there a great number of cavalry and infantry.
favour/ˈfeɪvɝ/30× in the book
Machiavelli, when commenting on this election, says that he who thinks new favours will cause great personages to forget old injuries deceives himself.
conquer/ˈkɑŋkɝ/29× in the book
Therefore, he who considers both of these states will recognize great difficulties in seizing the state of the Turk, but, once it is conquered, great ease in holding it.
stat/ˈstæt/28× in the book
It is impossible to follow here the varying fortunes of the Italian states, which in 1507 were controlled by France …
valour27× in the book
Thus one year after he had committed this parricide, he was strangled, together with Vitellozzo, whom he had made his leader in valour and wickedness.
cavalry/ˈkævəɫɹi/25× in the book
From the above I have excepted the Turk, who always keeps round him twelve thousand infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry on which depend the security and strength of the kingdom, and it is necessary that …
lord/ˈɫɔɹd/22× in the book
… the one, that the family of their former lord is extinguished; the other …
accustom/əˈkəstəm/21× in the book
Such dominions thus acquired are either accustomed to live under a prince, or to live in freedom …
emperor/ˈɛmpɝɝ/21× in the book
… in order that they might hold the cities both for his security and his glory; as also were those emperors who, by the corruption of the soldiers …
cruelty/ˈkɹuəɫti/20× in the book
… he desired to show that, if any cruelty had been practised, it had not originated with him …
compel/kəmˈpɛɫ/20× in the book
… if not unmeaning: we are compelled to say that “Rome maintained friendly relations with the Ætolians,” etc., using four words to do the work of one.
fortress/ˈfɔɹtɹəs/19× in the book
… “my lady of Forli” of The Prince, from whose conduct and fate he drew the moral that it is far better to earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses.
hatred/ˈheɪtɹəd/19× in the book
… all the subject states are drawn to him, moved by the hatred which they feel against the ruling power.
hostile/ˈhɑstəɫ/19× in the book
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly …
mercenary/ˈmɝsəˌnɛɹi/18× in the book
I say, therefore, that the arms with which a prince defends his state are either his own, or they are mercenaries, auxiliaries, or mixed.
greatness/ˈɡɹeɪtnəs/17× in the book
His youth was concurrent with the greatness of Florence as an Italian power under the guidance of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Il Magnifico.
thee/ˈði/16× in the book
… I should have laboured less, and I should have left thee, if a smaller state …
honour/ˈɑnɝ/15× in the book
… take pains to study letters and music, for you see what honour is done to me for the little skill I have.
liberality/ˌɫɪˌbɝˈæɫəˌti/15× in the book
… humanity, and liberality Scipio conformed to those things which have been written of Cyrus by Xenophon.
thou/ˈðaʊ/15× in the book
And in order that thou shouldst not only possess the estate which thy father left, but also that which my fortune and abilities have gained …
deceive/dɪˈsiv/15× in the book
… because those who had opened the gates to him, finding themselves deceived in their hopes of future benefit, would not endure the ill-treatment of the new prince.
faction/ˈfækʃən/15× in the book
… according to their rank, honouring them with office and command in such a way that in a few months all attachment to the factions was destroyed and turned entirely to the duke.
ambition/æmˈbɪʃən/15× in the book
Machiavelli’s public life was largely occupied with events arising out of the ambitions of Pope Alexander VI and his son, Cesare Borgia …
empire/ˈɛmpaɪɝ/15× in the book
Then—to pass to a higher plane—Machiavelli reiterates that, although crimes may win an empire, they do not win glory.
glory/ˈɡɫɔɹi/15× in the book
… where princes were made by Darius, in order that they might hold the cities both for his security and his glory; as also were those emperors who …
reproach/ɹiˈpɹoʊtʃ/14× in the book
And again, he need not make himself uneasy at incurring a reproach for those vices without which the state can only be saved with difficulty, for if everything is considered carefully …
offend/əˈfɛnd/14× in the book
… being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little …
faithful/ˈfeɪθfəɫ/14× in the book
… because having always kept faith I could not now learn how to break it; for he who has been faithful and honest, as I have …
dominion/dəˈmɪnjən/13× in the book
… nor those of Pope Julius in ’10, unless he had been long established in his dominions.
conspiracy/kənˈspɪɹəsi/13× in the book
Shortly after this he was accused of complicity in an abortive conspiracy against the Medici, imprisoned, and put to the question by torture.
castle/ˈkæsəɫ/12× in the book
The castle of Milan, built by Francesco Sforza, has made, and will make, more trouble for the house of Sforza than any other disorder in the state.
foreigner/ˈfɑɹənɝ/12× in the book
And the usual course of affairs is that, as soon as a powerful foreigner enters a country, all the subject states are drawn to him …
goodwill/ˈɡʊdˈwɪɫ/11× in the book
For, although one may be very strong in armed forces, yet in entering a province one has always need of the goodwill of the natives.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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