Virtù and Fortune

Machiavelli explores how human excellence (virtù) interacts with fortune, arguing that successful leaders and republics must adapt their methods to the changing times, as illustrated by the contrasting approaches of Fabius Maximus and Scipio.

The dedication emphasizes personal merit and virtue over fortune or inherited position, as seen in the contrast between Hiero and Perseus.

Machiavelli argues that a founder's virtù (skill, strength, wisdom) can overcome fortune, as seen in Romulus and Numa, but that fortune also plays a role in the rise and fall of states.

The founder's capacity (virtù) and the city's fortune are linked; Rome's virtue was maintained through strict laws despite fertile conditions.

Rome's success is attributed to 'Fortune' and a series of accidents, yet also to the prudent response of its institutions, blending chance with wise adaptation.