BOOK I: 93 And thus, peace having come, he ought to want his princes to return to govern their peoples, the gentlemen to the cultivation of their possessions, and the infantrymen to their particular arts; and [he ought to want] each of them to make war willingly so as to have peace, and not to seek to disturb the peace so as to have war.
With this statement there is a strong differentiation between peace and war. During peacetime people build and cultivate possessions. The goal is to replenish resources, perfect skills and spend the idle hours of the day working toward the betterment of society. The goal of war is to defend or attack enemies whose desire to destroy or forcefully obtain their enemy's land and technologies.
In the line, "...each of them to make war willingly so as to have peace," identifies how even during times of peace, we are at war. During peacetime we are civilized; therefore, the modes of combat are not essential, though the concept of competition is visible. Businesses frequently compete. Regular people must defend against those who will exploit civil and legal means to obtain people, land and technology from an unwilling artisan. Thus war is an extension of peace; however, the objective is to build more than destroy so the means are subdued.
Beyond acknowledging the enemy a person must also recognize how to be a friend. Many discourses between captain and solider are in the fifth book:
BOOK V: 96-7 This arises from not taking account of spoils in these times, as was done anciently, but leaving everything to the discretion of the soldiers. This mode makes two very great disorders: one, I have stated; the other, that the soldiery becomes more greedy for spoils has made the one who had been victorious lose.
In another book, "the Art of War" by Sun Tzu, the author observes another affect. While Machiavelli acknowledges a differentiation between his soldiers and enemy he is cruel to his friends. It is understandable a captain keeps the majority of the spoils, so they may strengthen forces even after defeat. However, a person recognizing rewards for work is more likely to fight equally as well in the future, as opposed to someone who knows there is no reward for their efforts. If the reward is less than or denied when soldiers returns home, soldiers are less likely to volunteer in the future. This is why Sun Tzu recommends dividing the spoils, so soldiers have incentive to continue fighting.
Despite this, there is an acknowledgement between friend and foe even if the method of treating a friend may turn them into a foe. Regardless, in either peace or war the objective is to win, while weakening the enemy who desires what they did not earn rightfully through labor or compensation. How do we protect ourselves during times of peace? We utilize legal channels and commonly accepted terms of discourse. These include: patents, trade rules, and legal means of acquisition.
Legal means of acquisition are important because understanding acquisition of property prevents someone from acquiring it at a lower than market cost. For example: land is often acquired at a lower cost through foreclosure. Until a person attempts to acquire another person's land they might not understand it is more important to pay property tax than overpay the mortgage.
Often banks will renegotiate mortgages because they want monthly payments with additional interest. If a person fails to pay property tax the government seizes the land and removes the tenants. Banks are forced to sell property for the remainder of the lean; therefore, lose income, land and money. Many people struggle to pay their $2,000 mortgage payment only to lose when they could have paid a much lower $3,000 a year. In this event they lose an asset essential to generating income to pay off creditors.
Often people want to use the broader conduct of war scenarios in times of peace or managing a business. This makes people lose. Bragging, chanting and using the sounds of wars make people aware of actions before the action is complete. Wanting to build, it is better to maintain friendships and avoid making new enemies. Soldiers should trust captains to partition wealth adequately and captains should divide spoils appropriately in order to maintain peace; therein, avoid provoking another potential war between former allies.
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