There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; bu

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问题     There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to(求助,求援)the second. It is, therefore, necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man. This was covertly(隐秘地,不公开地)taught to rulers by ancient writers, who relate how Achilles and many others of those ancient princes were given to Chiron the centaur(半人半马的怪物)to be brought up and educated under his discipline. The parable(寓言)of this semi-animal, semi-human teacher is meant to indicate that the one without the other is not durable. A prince, being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast, must imitate the fox, and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Those that wish to be only lions do not understand this. Therefore, a prudent(谨慎的)ruler ought not to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept(规则)would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not keep faith with them. Nor have legitimate grounds ever failed a prince who wished to show colorable excuse for the nonfulfilment of his promise. Of this, one could furnish an infinite number of examples, and show how many times peace has been broken, and how many promises rendered(致使)worthless, by the faithlessness of princes, and those that have best been a-ble to imitate the fox have succeeded best. But it is necessary to be able to disguise this character well, and to be a great feigner(作假者)and dissembler(伪君子),and men are so simple and so ready to obey present necessities that the one who deceives will always be able to find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
The writer does not believe that______.

选项 A、the truth makes men free
B、people can protect themselves
C、princes are human
D、leaders have to be consistent

答案D

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