Sallust’s sentiments were closely echoed by Machiavelli at start of Book 2 of the Discorsi. It is above all the most marvelous thing to consider what greatness Rome attained after she succeeded in liberating herself from her kings. The reason’,Machiavelli goes on is easy to understand, for it is not the pursuit of individual good but of the common good that makes cities great, and it is beyond doubt that the common good is never considered except in republics. The opposite happens where there is a prince, for on most occasions what benefits him is offensive to the city, and what benefits the city is offensive to him