Read this paragraph from chapter 5 of The Prince.

There are, for example, the Spartans and the Romans. The Spartans held Athens and Thebes, establishing there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost them. The Romans, in order to hold Capua, Carthage, and Numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose them. They wished to hold Greece as the Spartans held it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did not succeed. So to hold it they were compelled to dismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there is no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining them. And he who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it, may expect to be destroyed by it, for in rebellion it has always the watchword of liberty and its ancient privileges as a rallying point, which neither time nor benefits will ever cause it to forget. And whatever you may do or provide against, they never forget that name or their privileges unless they are disunited or dispersed, but at every chance they immediately rally to them, as Pisa after the hundred years she had been held in bondage by the Florentines.

What idea is stressed in the passage?

the desire for liberty
the establishment of an oligarchy
the dismantling of an acquired state
the tendency toward rebellion

C). The dismantling of an acquired state.

Explanation:

In the given passage, the key idea that is being emphasized would be 'the dismantling of an acquired state.' This idea is evidently reflected from 'the Romans' dismantling attempt to capture Capua, Carthage, Numantia, with an aim to take a hold over Greece which was acquired by the Spartans.' The Romans were willing to hold the state like the Spartans and in order to accomplish this goal, they 'were compelled to dismantle many cities' as they found 'no safe way to retain them...by ruining them.' Thus, option C is the correct answer.

The dismantling of an acquired state.

Explanation:

The book titled "The Prince" is written by Niccolo Machiavelli in the 16th century. The book was written as a guide to the princes that they should work on the skills for the war.  

In the given passage, Machiavelli is stressing on the idea a prince, in order to rule over a city, needs to destroy it. If the Prince won't destroy it, the city will destroy the prince in their rebellion. And to make this point he used the example of Romans,  who dismantled Capua, Carthage, and Numantia to rule over them. Machiavelli is making a point that a prince should not be lenient in ruling because the people become rebels.

So, the correct answer is option C.

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