To go my own way, and yet to follow the ancients, the
principles of government are twofold: internal, or the goods of
the mind; and external, or the goods of fortune. The goods of the
mind are natural or acquired virtues, as wisdom, prudence, and
courage, etc. The goods of fortune are riches. There be goods
also of the body, as health, beauty, strength; but these are not
to be brought into account upon this score, because if a man or
an army acquires victory or empire, it is more from their
discipline, arms, and courage than from their natural health,
beauty, or strength, in regard that a people conquered may have
more of natural strength, beauty, and health, and yet find little
remedy. The principles of government then are in the goods of the
mind, or in the goods of fortune. To the goods of the mind
answers authority; to the goods of fortune, power or empire.
Wherefore Leviathan, though he be right where he says that
"riches are power," is mistaken where he says that "prudence, or
the reputation of prudence, is power;" for the learning or
prudence of a man is no more power than the learning or prudence
of a book or author, which is properly authority. A learned
writer may have authority though he has no power; and a foolish
magistrate may have power, though he has otherwise no esteem or
authority. The difference of these two is observed by Livy in
Evander, of whom he says that he governed rather by the authority
of others than by his own power.
To begin with riches, in regard that men are hung upon these,
not of choice as upon the other, but of necessity and by the
teeth; forasmuch as he who wants bread is his servant that will
feed him, if a man thus feeds a whole people, they are under his
empire.
Empire is of two kinds, domestic and national, or foreign and
provincial.
Domestic empire is founded upon dominion. Dominion is
property, real or personal; that is to say, in lands, or in money
and goods.
Lands, or the parts and parcels of a territory, are held by
the proprietor or proprietors, lord or lords of it, in some
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