Read this paragraph from chapter 5 of The Prince

There are, for example, the Spartans and the

Romans. The Spartans held Athens and Thebes,

establishing there an oligarchy nevertheless they lost

them. The Romans, in order to hold Capua, Carthage,

and Numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose

them. They wished to hold Greece as the Spartans

held it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did

not succeed. So to hold it they were compelled to

dismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there

is no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining

them. And he who becomes master of a city

accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it, may

expect to be destroyed by it, for in rebellion it has

always the watchword of liberty and its ancient

privileges as a rallying point, which neither time nor

benefits will ever cause it to forget. And whatever you

may do or provide against they never forget that

What idea is stressed in the passage?

Athe desire for liberty

Bthe establishment of an oligarchy

C)the dismantling of an acquired state

D)the tendency toward rebellion