Which statement best summarizes the central idea of this excerpt? One must know the process of hiring servants. It is important to always honor one's servants. It is necessary to choose trustworthy servants. The intelligence of servants must be considered.

Read this passage from chapter 22 of The Prince.

But to enable a prince to form an opinion of his servant there is one test which never fails; when you see the servant thinking more of his own interests than of yours, and seeking inwardly his own profit in everything, such a man will never make a good servant, nor will you ever be able to trust him; because he who has the state of another in his hands ought never to think of himself, but always of his prince, and never pay any attention to matters in which the prince is not concerned.

Which statement best summarizes the central idea of this excerpt?

One must know the process of hiring servants.

It is important to always honor one's servants.

It is necessary to choose trustworthy servants.

The intelligence of servants must be considered.

Answer:

One must know the process of hiring servants.

Explanation:

The best summary to the central idea of the excerpt is that one must know the process of hiring servants.

"when you see the servant thinking more of his own interests than of yours, and seeking inwardly his own profit in everything, such a man will never make a good servant"

From the above quote, we can see that the prince is advised on the process of hiring a servant. He is told to look out for sings that would disqualify one from being selected as a servant. He mentioned that if the person thinks about himself and interest, more than that of the prince, then he should not be hired.