A prince should reassure his subjects during an attack.
Explanation:
In these lines, Machiavelli is highlighting the qualities that a prince should have when he is faced with an attack from a foreign enemy. He tells us that regardless of the situation that the prince faces, if he is valued by his people and has a strong city, it would be very difficult to defeat him. The way to maintain respect, however, is to effectively reassure his people. He should tell them that the attack will be over soon and that the difficulties will not last long.
