# CHAPTER 23 — Why Camillus Was Driven Out of Rome

We have concluded above that in conducting himself like Valerius, a man harms his native city and himself; in conducting himself like Manlius, a man benefits his native city and sometimes harms himself. This is well demonstrated by the example of Camillus, who in his conduct resembled Manlius rather than Valerius. Hence Livy, when speaking of Camillus, says that ‘the soldiers hated but admired his exceptional ability’. *

What caused him to be considered marvellous was his solicitude, prudence, greatness of heart, and the good organization that he displayed in using and commanding armies; what made him hated was that he was more severe in punishing his men than generous in rewarding them. Livy cites these reasons for this hatred: first, that the money which was derived from selling the property of the Veientes was added to the public treasury and was not divided among the soldiers along with the spoils of war; next, that in his triumph he had his triumphal chariot drawn by four white horses, which caused people to say that because of his pride he was trying to rival the sun; third, that he made a vow to give to Apollo the tenth part of the spoils from the Veientes, which, in trying to fulfil this vow, he had to take from the hands of soldiers who had already seized it. Here, it is easy to note clearly those things which make a prince hated by his people, the most important of which is to deprive them of some benefit. This is a matter of great importance, because when you are deprived of things which in themselves possess some benefit, you will never forget it; every little necessity causes you to remember it, and because necessities arise every day, you remember them every day. The other thing is to appear puffed up with pride, which could not be any more odious to a people, especially if they are free. And although such pride and pomp cause them no inconvenience, none the less, they hate anyone who displays them; a prince must guard against this as he would against a reef, because to bring hatred on himself without any benefit is a completely reckless and imprudent policy.