AMBITION is like choler; which is an humor that maketh men active, earnest, full of alacrity, 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 ambitious 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 ambitious men, to handle it, so as they be still progressive 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, because 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 popular: 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 overgreat. 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 ambitious 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 danger, 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 intentions, when he aspireth, is an honest man; and that prince, that can discern of these intentions in another 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.
AMBITION is like yellow bile, one of the bodily humors thought to shape temperament. When it flows freely, it makes people active, eager, energetic, and restless. But when blocked, it becomes overheated, turning harmful and poisonous. So ambitious people are more busy than dangerous when their path to advancement stays open and they keep rising. But when their desires are frustrated, they become secretly resentful. They look on people and events with hostility and are happiest when things go wrong. This is the worst quality in anyone serving a ruler or state. Therefore, rulers who employ ambitious people should make sure they keep moving forward, not backward. Since this cannot be done without difficulties, it is better not to employ such people at all. For if their service does not bring them advancement, they will arrange for that service to decline with their fortunes. But since ambitious people should be employed only when necessary, we should consider when they are necessary. Good military commanders must be employed, however ambitious they may be. The value of their service outweighs all other concerns. And employing a soldier without ambition is like taking away his spurs. Ambitious people are also very useful as shields for rulers facing danger and resentment. No one will accept that role unless he resembles a dove whose eyelids have been sewn shut. It flies higher and higher because it cannot see around it. Ambitious people are also useful for bringing down any subject whose power has grown too great. Tiberius used Marco this way to bring down Sejanus. Since they must be employed in such cases, we should consider how to restrain them and reduce their danger. They are less dangerous if they come from humble origins rather than noble families. They are also less dangerous if they are harsh by nature rather than charming and popular. The same is true if they have only recently risen to power. Those long established in power have learned cunning and strengthened their position. Some consider it a weakness for rulers to have favorites. Yet this is the best of all remedies against ambitious, powerful men. When rewards and punishments pass through the favorite, no one else can become too powerful. Another way to restrain them is to counterbalance them with others equally proud. But moderate advisers must stand between them to keep matters steady. Without that ballast, the ship will roll too much. At least, a ruler can encourage and train some lower-ranking people to act as whips against ambitious men. Keeping ambitious people vulnerable to ruin may work well if they are timid. But if they are bold and daring, it may hasten their plans and prove dangerous. Sometimes affairs require their removal, but removing them suddenly would be unsafe. Then the only way is to alternate continually between favor and disgrace. This leaves them uncertain what to expect, as though lost in a forest. The ambition to succeed in great things is less harmful than the ambition to seem important in everything. The latter breeds confusion and spoils business. Yet an ambitious person actively engaged in affairs is less dangerous than one with a powerful network of followers. Anyone seeking to stand out among able people faces a great task. But that ambition always benefits the public. Someone who schemes to be the only significant figure among nobodies brings an entire age into decline. High office offers three things. It provides a position from which to do good. It gives access to kings and leading people. And it allows a person to improve his own fortunes. Anyone who seeks advancement for the best of these purposes is an honest man. A ruler who can distinguish these motives in someone seeking advancement is a wise ruler. In general, rulers and states should choose ministers more concerned with duty than with exploiting their position. They should choose those who love their work from conscience rather than a desire to show off. And they should distinguish a restless, meddling nature from a genuine willingness to serve.