The following question is based on your reading of "The Prince."

Machiavelli concludes that it is better to be:

a. a river rather than a wheel

c. a pope rather than a prince

b. adventurous rather than cautious

d. cautious rather than fortunate

The correct answer is D, cautious rather than fortunate. He uses the metaphor of a river to explain that fortune is strong like a river, it gushes and you cannot stop it, however, when the river is calm, you can build bridges and dams, thus control the river. What this means in real life is that if you prepare yourself well enough, ergo, if you are cautious, you won't have the need to be fortunate, as you will always be prepared.