“Moreover for the lawsuits, letters, and decrees of the cities, for the consideration of the demands of individuals and everything else which belongs to the administration of the empire you must have supporters and assistants from among the knights.  Everything will move along more easily in this way, and you will neither err through want of fairness nor become exhausted by doing everything yourself.  Grant every one who wishes to make any suggestion whatever to you the right of speaking freely and fearlessly.  If you approve what he says, it will be of great service:  and if you are not persuaded, it will do no harm.  Those who obtain your favorable judgment you should both praise and honor, since by their devices you will receive glory:  and those who fail of it you should never dishonor or censure.  It is proper to look at their intentions, and not to find fault because their plans were unavailable.  Guard against this same mistake when war is concerned.  Be not enraged at any one for involuntary misfortune nor jealous of his good fortune, to the end that all may zealously and gladly run risks for you, confident that if they make a slip they will not be punished nor if successful become the objects of intrigue.  There are many who through fear of jealousy on the part of those in power have chosen to meet reverses rather than to effect anything.  As a result they retained their safety, but the loss fell upon their own heads.  You, who are sure to reap the principal benefit from both classes alike,—­the inferior and the superior,—­ought never to choose to become nominally jealous of others, but really of yourself.

[-34-] “Whatever you wish your subjects to think and do you must say and do.  You can better educate them in this way than if you should desire to terrify them by the severities of the laws.  The former course inspires emulation, the latter fear.  And any one can more easily imitate superior conduct, when he actually sees it in some life, than he can guard against low behavior which he merely hears to be prohibited by edict.  Act in every way yourself with circumspection, not condoning any mistakes of your own, for be well assured that all will straightway learn everything you say and do.  You will live as it were in a kind of theatre, whose audience is the whole world:  and it will not be possible for you to escape detection if you commit the very smallest error.  No act of yours will ever be in private, but all of them will be performed in the midst of many persons.  And all the remainder of mankind somehow take the greatest delight in being officious with respect to what is done by their rulers.  Hence, if they once ascertain that you are urging them to one course and following a different one yourself, they will not fear your threats, but will imitate your deeds.