Some princes, so as to hold securely the state, have disarmed their subjects, others have kept their subject towns distracted by factions...Our forefathers, and those who were reckoned wise, were accustomed to say that it was necessary to hold Pistoia… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
![“Some princes, so as to hold securely the state, have disarmed their subjects, others have kept their subject towns distracted by factions...Our forefathers, and those who were reckoned wise, were accustomed to say that it was necessary to hold Pistoia [an Italian city] by factions and Pisa by…” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/670/niccolo-machiavelli-368_accustomed_some-princes-so-as-to-hold-securely-the_1939657.jpg)