"But this commonwealth being constituted more especially of
two elements, arms and councils, drives by a natural instinct at
courage and wisdom; which he who has attained is arrived at the
perfection of human nature. It is true that these virtues must
have some natural root in him that is capable of them; but this
amounts not to so great a matter as some will have it. For if
poverty makes an industrious, a moderate estate a temperate, and
a lavish fortune a wanton man, and this be the common course of
things, wisdom then is rather of necessity than inclination. And
that an army which was meditating upon flight, has been brought
by despair to win the field, is so far from being strange, that
like causes will evermore produce like effects. Wherefore this
commonwealth drives her citizens like wedges; there is no way
with them but thorough, nor end but that glory whereof man is
capable by art or nature. That the genius of the Roman families
commonly preserved itself throughout the line (as to instance in
some, the Manlii were still severe, the Publicolae lovers, and
the Appii haters of the people) is attributed by Machiavel to
their education; nor, if interest might add to the reason why the
genius of a patrician was one thing, and that of a plebeian
another, is the like so apparent between different nations, who,
according to their different educations, have yet as different
manners.
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