§ 1. In the first book we treated of God, the principal cause of the commonwealth, from whom all power comes and in whom it terminates; of the human beings from whom that political body is fitted together as though from its members, and is moved and acts; and likewise of its manifold form. Now a discourse must be undertaken concerning the cause which is first in the mind of the agent and last in the execution of the work—namely, concerning the end of the commonwealth. Since that end consists in the exercise of virtue and the contemplation of what is honorable, we must hereafter speak concerning the virtues of magistrates and subjects. But since true faith in God is the foundation of all virtues, I shall treat principally of it in the second book, and of the others in the third book.
Although that doctrine might seem to pertain to individuals rather than to the commonwealth, nevertheless, mindful of my undertaking, I shall accommodate all the precepts of the virtues to the formation of magistrates and of subjects insofar as they are citizens and members of a great body, so that it may be wholly evident to all by what things the majesty of governments has grown, and by what things it has been afflicted and given over to destruction.