Short Answer 
The passage discusses the differing responses of principalities and republics to leadership changes, highlighting that citizens in principalities are more passive, enabling new rulers to gain loyalty easily. In contrast, republic citizens, motivated by past liberties, show resistance to new rulers, leading Machiavelli to argue that a prince must either destroy or integrate into a conquered republic to maintain control.
1. Understanding the Context
Machiavelli’s passage discusses the differences between how principalities and republics react to changes in leadership. In principalities, when a prince and his family are removed, the citizens are used to obeying a single authority and struggle to organize themselves. This reliance makes it easier for a new prince to gain loyalty from the people.
2. Key Differences Between Governments
The text highlights two key government types: principalities and republics. In principalities, the citizens tend to be passive and slow to rebel. Conversely, republics are characterized by their vitality and desire for vengeance. The citizens in a republic are driven by the memory of their lost liberty, making them less likely to easily accept new rulers.
3. Primary Purpose of the Passage
Machiavelli’s main goal in this passage is to demonstrate that a prince seeking to maintain control over a conquered republic must either destroy the republic or live among its citizens. This conclusion emphasizes the challenges a ruler faces in managing a populace that yearns for freedom and revenge against past oppressors.