The Prince
Baldesar Castiglione
The Book of the Courtier
Appropriate ettiquette for a courtier or prince.
When it would not be right for the prince to play the part of the prince. What the spectators come to expect would leave something to be desired, everyone knows the prince is the prince. When he's seen trying to be the prince, he loses the license of accomplishment, acting beneath a prince's dignity. If there is competiton in games, more so in a duel, he could be seen saving face, than to be outdone. If he were to act, rather than perform under the proper circumstances, he'd nullify due authority, that reality seemed mere play. If the prince plays down his title, while keeping recognition, he's the better, to come to task by ability than by authority, to show his worth is not greater, just because he's the prince.
To relate what Nicollo Machiavelli said from his book, The Prince,
A good prince should strive, as other great men have, in the hour of danger, should fortune turn against you, to find yourself ready to resist her blows.
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