Цепочка: virtù против fortuna

Линия власти как противостояния доблести и случая: от прихода к власти (гл. VI) до финального расчёта о фортуне (гл. XXV).

1. Опора на себя, а не на удачу — virtu

   he who has relied least on fortune is established the strongest.
   — The Prince, ch. VI, unit prince.6

2. Вооружённый пророк побеждает — vooruzhonny-prorok

   Hence it is that all armed prophets have conquered, and the unarmed ones have been destroyed.
   — The Prince, ch. VI, unit prince.6

3. Своё войско, а не наёмное — naemniki-i-svoyo-oruzhie

   I conclude, therefore, that no principality is secure without having its own forces; on the contrary, it is entirely dependent on good fortune, not having the valour which in adversity would defend it.
   — The Prince, ch. XIII, unit prince.13

4. Фортуна правит половиной — fortuna

   I hold it to be true that Fortune is the arbiter of one-half of our actions, but that she still leaves us to direct the other half, or perhaps a little less.
   — The Prince, ch. XXV, unit prince.25

5. Барьеры доблести против разлива — fortuna

   So it happens with fortune, who shows her power where valour has not prepared to resist her, and thither she turns her forces where she knows that barriers and defences have not been raised to constrain her.
   — The Prince, ch. XXV, unit prince.25