Machiavelli had the idea that to some extent fortune could be controlled through virtue. In chapter XXV Machiavelli declares: "...I believe it is true that Fortune is the arbiter of half of our actions, but that she still leaves us in control of the other half, or almost" (Machiavelli, 84). He states that humans can control half their luck, later in the chapter he explains what factor allows this. He compares luck to a destructive river, stating that when the river becomes angry everyone begins to run away, unable to resist its damage. Machiavelli believes that this good fortune could have been controlled by taking certain precautions, such as building dams, when the water was calm. He states, “She (Fortune) shows her power where there is no well-ordered virtue to resist her, and then turns her impetus towards where she knows not that levees and dams have been built to hold her back” (Machiavelli, 84). Being prepared for anything and being able to fight against a force is what Machiavelli would consider a virtuous quality, having the ability to fight