OF FACTION.                             269
 

LI.

OF FACTION.

1\Iany have an opinion not wise—that for a prince
to gover^i his estate, or for a great person to govern
his proceedings, according to the respect of factions,
is a principal part of policy ; whereas, contrariwise,
the chiefest wisdom is, either in ordering those
things which are general, and wherein men of several
factions do nevertheless agree; or in dealing with
correspondence to particular persons, one by one.
But I say not that the consideration of factions is
to be neglected. Mean men in their rising must
adhere ; but great men, that have strength in them¬
selves, were better to maintain themselves indifferent
and neutral. Yet even in beginners to adhere so
moderately as he be a man of the one faction, which
is most passable with the other, commonly giveth
best way. The lower and weaker faction is the
firmer in conjunction ; and it Is often seen that a
few that are stiff do tire out a greater number that