What is the most important idea the author wants readers to know? #there are three means of holding a newly acquired state that is accustomed to freedom. #the easiest way to hold a newly acquired state is to play on the citizens’ own interests. #a government created by a prince knows that it is in its own interest to remain loyal to the prince. #one way to hold a newly acquired state accustomed to freedom is to establish a friendly governmen

The most important idea that the author wants readers to know is:

- There are three means of holding a newly acquired state that is accustomed to freedom.

Explanation:

Nicholas Machiavelli in his production "The Prince" establishes that a prince, when acquires a new state and that state is accustomed to freedom, must opt for one of three options: to ruin it (that wasn't rare in the 15th century), living there (impractical for a prince) or let them live how at that moment.

Though the second option comes from Machiavelli's mind too, it isn't in the text, the third option is just a fragment of the text, not the most important idea and the fourth option is a fragment too, with just one of the possible options in the text.