The Discourses Quiz

Take our free The Discourses quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!

If a cliché could be given to the preface to Book Two of "The Discourses", what would it be? (from Book Two, The Growth of Rome's Empire, Preface, Methods of Expansion, Colonization and War: Its Causes and Cost, Diplomacy and War)

"Go where you belong--on the ash heap of history."

."The only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history."

"History is written by the winners."

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

What does Machiavelli identify as the cause of using dishonorable words against an enemy? (from Book Two, The Growth of Rome's Empire, The Army, Its Discipline and Component Parts, The Administration of Conquered Territory and Other Problems Which Admit of No Middle Course, Mistakes Often Made in Connection With War, Rome's Dealings With Neighboring)

Poor military tactics of the enemy.

False hopes brought by victory.

Corruption that leads to an enemy's defeat.

Poor discipline in the army.

What advice does Machiavelli offer in Book 1, Section 52 to those who want to pursue their ambitions? (from Book One, The Development of Rome's Constitution, The Popular Demand for a Share in Government, The Management of the Populace, The Advantages of Popular Government)

"Ambition is the last infirmity of Noble minds."

"He who is blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher must herafter fall with greatest loss."

"...(C)onsider the defects and perils which it [presents], and not to undertake it if it should be more dangerous than useful,...."

"Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make yhou believe that you too can become great."

What are the two ways that Republics are altered that Machiavelli examines? (from Book Three, The Examples of Rome's Great Men, Reform, Security, and the Elimination of Rivals, On Conspiracies, The Need of Adaptation to Environment)

With war and money.

With natural disaster and new religions.

With bloodshed and without bloodshed.

With free press and elections.

Who were the two Roman Consuls whose tactics Machiavelli compares as an example of how Princes can take what belongs to another? (from Book Three, The Example of Rome's Great Men, Salus Populi, Suprema Lex, Further Reflections Based on the Samnite Wars, The Preservation of Freedom in a Republic)

Decius and Fabius.

Claudius and Brutus.

Decius and Octavius.

Fabius and Junius.