# CHAPTER 3 — The Circumstances that Caused the Creation of the Tribunes of the Plebeians, Making the Republic More Perfect

As is demonstrated by all those who discuss civic life—and every history is filled with such examples—it is necessary for anyone who organizes a republic and establishes laws in it to take for granted that all men are evil and that they will always act according to the wickedness of their nature whenever they have the opportunity, and when any wickedness remains hidden for a time, it arises from a hidden cause that is not recognized by those who lack experience of its contrary, but time, which people say is the father of every truth, will eventually uncover it.

An absolute harmony appeared to exist between the plebeians and the senate in Rome after the expulsion of the Tarquins, and the nobles, appearing to have put aside their pride and to have become democratic in spirit, were tolerated by everyone, even the most humble. This deception remained hidden, nor was the motive for it clear as long as the Tarquins, whom the nobles feared, were alive, and fearing that the plebeians, if mistreated, would draw closer to the Tarquins, they conducted themselves humanely with them, but when the Tarquins were dead and the nobles had lost their fear, they began to pour out upon the plebeians all the venom they had held within their breasts, and in every way they could they offended them. This fact testifies to what I said above, that men never do good except out of necessity, but where choices are abundant and unlimited freedom is the norm, everything immediately becomes confused and disorderly. Hence, it is said that hunger and poverty make men industrious and laws make them good, and where something works well by itself without the law, the law is unnecessary, but when that good custom is lacking, the law is immediately necessary. Thus, after the Tarquins were gone, fear of whom had kept the nobility in check, it was necessary to consider a new institution that would produce the same effect that the Tarquins produced while they were alive. In this way, after many disorders, disturbances, and the danger of disagreements that arose between the plebeians and the nobility, the creation of the tribunes came about for the security of the plebeians, and these tribunes were established with such power and prestige that they could always thereafter act as intermediaries between the plebeians and the senate and could curb the insolence of the nobles.