"For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against"

Machiavelli’s assertion delves into the critical relationship between self-defense, perception, and authority. Disarmament, in his view, is not simply a practical disadvantage; it is a profound moral and social liability. Power, for a prince or any ruler, is inseparably tied to the capability to defend and enforce their will. Once deprived of arms, not just actual weapons but the broader means of exercising force, a ruler is left exposed not merely to physical threat, but to a degradation of their status and reputation.

Being “contemptible” suggests more than simple vulnerability; it is about inspiring disdain, inviting disrespect, and being seen as unworthy of obedience. In Machiavelli’s political context, appearance and reality are intertwined. A ruler who cannot defend his state or himself loses the esteem of subjects and rivals alike. Such perceptions are not trivial. To be despised is to erode the very basis upon which stability and obedience rest. Law, policy, and proclamations count for little if the person issuing them is not feared or at least respected for their capacity to enforce them.

Disgrace, therefore, is not only a threat to image but to policy and governance itself. Once scorn finds its way into the collective attitude of those governed or those who would threaten the state, the prince’s authority unravels. Machiavelli insists that such an outcome must be avoided with vigilance. Maintaining dignity and avoiding contempt are paramount responsibilities; they are not just matters of pride, but of survival and efficacy in rule.

Thus, the refusal to become disarmed is not purely a question of strategy, but of identity. It affirms the ruler’s worth and their claim to command. By keeping arms, literal and figurative, a leader preserves the necessary distance between themselves and subjugation, ensuring that their authority remains robust and their reputation unblemished by the stain of contempt.