MACHIAVELLI AND CLASS WARFARE

As I have noted before, Karl Marx did not invent the concept of class warfare because it seems to have been first mentioned by the Sumerians in 2400 BC. I just found another more recent source: Machiavelli's The Prince (ca. 1513 AD).

In Chapter 9, CONCERNING A CIVIL PRINCIPALITY, Machiavelli wrote:

I say then that such a principality is obtained either by the favour of the people or by the favour of the nobles. Because in all cities these two distinct parties are found, and from this it arises that the people do not wish to be ruled nor oppressed by the nobles, and the nobles wish to rule and oppress the people; and from these two opposite desires there arises in cities one of three results, either a principality, self-government, or anarchy.

Besides this, one cannot by fair dealing, and without injury to others, satisfy the nobles, but you can satisfy the people, for their object is more righteous than that of the nobles, the latter wishing to oppress, while the former only desire not to be oppressed