Analysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli

The political situation that prompted Machiavelli to write The Prince was that Italy wasn’t a unified country yet. It was a bunch of city states.

In The Prince, Machiavelli discusses ways in which a ruler should obtain power and maintain power, emphasizing the concept of gaining power through virtue versus fortune. Virtue, or virtu in the original Italian, is defined as the masculine quality of power, and not necessarily tied to ideas of morality as it is in the English definition.

In the story "The Prince", the author, Niccolo Machiavelli illustrates plenty of key points in what it takes to become a successful Prince. Machiavelli illustrates a true image of the unsympathetic reputation he has carried throughout the years. He explains his ideas on taking over a "free" state and how to take control and rule while still having the peoples respect. In chapter 5, Machiavelli claims that the key to taking over a free state is to destroy it at first.

Machiavelli claims to possess deep knowledge on how one acquires power, sustains power, and employs power. Throughout his life, he observed patterns in history on the rise and fall of certain rulers, and the reasons of their demise. Using his knowledge, Machiavelli wrote The Prince, a philosophical political-science book. At the time of the book’s writing, Lorenzo de Medici held a leading role in the state. Machiavelli addressed The Prince to Lorenzo de Medici in hoping that he would utilize its contents in becoming an effective and competent ruler.

Niccolo Machiavelli’s most famous book, The Prince, contains the most valid information for a prince, a president, and even a king, to keep hold of their own power. Machiavelli tells about the importance and power of political action, his opinions, and most of all philosophy at it’s finest. Throughout the twenty-six chapters of this book he describes the bold, brave, practical, and powerful prince and how the prince’s life should be lived. Machiavelli’s view of human nature is used as justification for his political advice to princes. Niccolo Machiavelli was very intelligent, motivated, and dedicated while writing this book, he attempts to inform princes how to come to power by being powerful; he determines if nature and the environment a prince lives in is the cause of their failure and success.

Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince with the sole purpose of impressing the Medici family and getting on the good side of the new ruler of Florence, Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici. By writing this “handbook to ruling,” Machiavelli hoped to sway the Medici to accept him as an ally and possible political advisor. He was extremely convincing as he used examples from the past as a “political lesson” to further distinguish his ideas as correct.

The Prince is a practical guide on how to be a proper ruler written by Niccolò Machiavelli in 1513. In it he outlines how to act as a prince. He wrote it for Lorenzo Di Piero De’ Medici, the Duke of Florence, because he wanted him to accept it as a gift in hopes that reading it could make him a better ruler. In the book, Machiavelli describes the traits and actions a prince should take in order to rule effectively. Some themes found recurring within the book are human nature, perception of power, and leadership. He also discusses some controversial topics in regards to the methods a prince should use to maintain control.

The great philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli, having such beliefs, puts to rest man’s downfall and presents that way to preservation in his book The Prince, which produces an effective guide for political action based off of his own philosophical beliefs and history’s past. The Prince rest on the principle that, above all, the foundation for a ruler’s success is within verita effettuale—or, the effectiveness of a prince’s rule. Machiavelli urges rulers to focus on acting in ways that will result in the best political dominance rather than to be concerned with what others think of his actions. Furthermore, he mandates that for a prince to uphold his objective as the maintainer of the state, he must not be bound to a set code of morality. With that, Machiavelli takes out what was previously said on human morals and teaches that rulers do not, in fact, need to possess personal moral character in order to be effective political leaders. Indeed, a prince must learn to pay attention to moral qualities in such a manner as to be able to use them to gain the necessary power to control the state. He claims, a prince “should not deviate from what is good, if that is possible, but he should know how to do evil, if that is necessary” (Machiavelli). With this in mind, Machiavelli addresses how a prince should best use love, hate, fear, and cruelty to garner the most effective political rule possible.

A leader's duties while in a position of power will force them to face arduous decisions. In this position a leader will be compelled to ask themselves if the goals are justified by the actions executed. Niccolo Machiavelli voices his belief concerning this topic in his book “The Prince”, where he relates his respected opinion on the duties of a leader. Corresponding with his sentiment the ends justify the means because the masses matter more than the questionable actions executed. Assuming that the power of authority should always force the hand to do what is ultimately righteous. The obvious choice is to complete goals with the end achievement in mind while doing whatever is necessary to guarantee the completion of the goal, for the welfare of their people.

The prince is a twenty-six-chapter handbook that was written by Niccolo Machiavelli to teach the rulers of his time how to obtain and maintain power. Above and beyond, he did not like the way politics were being run and he was troubled by the problems so he made it clear on how a ruler should be in its state. He mentions that with virtue one must possess the skills, strength, and wisdom, to be a successful ruler. On the other hand, the good and bad represent fortune. Machiavelli was the son of an attorney born in the year of 1469 in Florence, Italy. When in fact, Florence was ruled by the Lorenzo di Medici. Even more, Machiavelli was raised around politic and political fortune so he knew a lot about it so his upbringing helps him advance within

A leader makes decisions for the people under his or her control. Back in the 1500s, kings or princes ruled most countries. In Niccolò Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” his interpretation of the power of princes in the 1500s is explained through a series of references to rulers whose decisions either benefitted or harmed them. Machiavelli explained the qualities and abilities he felt were necessary for a prince to have in order to be a successful ruler.

Prince Giacomo Ronzoni has just selected me to help him with his disputes in his city-state. I find myself honored and nervous to take on such a vital task. This makes me a key player in his rule, but if I misguide him the residents of the city-state may behead him and in turn behead me as well. The patrons of the city-state are upset with Prince Giacomo Ronzoni political rulings and there is a risk of a war with our neighbor Modena. However, I think I can offer some sage advice because of my recent reading of Machiavelli’s book, The Prince. Knowing our time is short before a rebellion or a war could break out I must prepare a concise understanding of the book for Prince Giacomo Ronzoni. When I have my advising hearing with the prince I have decided to focus on six main principles: free will, cruelty, arms, history, generosity and the unification of Italy.

Niccolo Machiavelli and Karl Marx developed theories concerning wealth and poverty in our society, as well as different types of governments. For instance, Machiavelli supported a capitalist economic system, unlike Marx, who embraced socialism in the society. Machiavelli wrote a book "The Prince" that explained how to be an effective leader. The theme of the book is "the end justifies the means." A person could or should do whatever is necessary to achieve the desired goal. According to Machiavelli, there is no concept of a perfect ruler, but only effective or ineffective leaders. Therefore, he claims that there are no fair fighters, but only losers and winners. Contrary, Marx embraced democracy as good practice for the government. This paper will analyze whether Marx would buy Machiavelli 's thought that states "desired ends justify undesirable means" (Weng 1).

Virtù is an Italian word used by Machiavelli to denote various terms such as skill, ability, forcefulness, energy, ingenuity, strength, determination, or courage. It is the quality that sets apart successful princes from the others. The author gives examples of well-known founders of great civilizations. When these men came across opportunities, they possessed the virtù required to take full advantage of them. However, Machiavelli points out that virtù is wasted if there is no opportunity to use it. Also, he is of the opinion that violence and use of force is an essential part of the state; and a ruler must utilize it as a tool of government. Machiavelli points out that, if subjects lose faith in a leader’s innovative schemes, he must force it down their throats. Alternatively, the followers must act as if they have faith by obeying the ruler.

Machiavelli states that acts of immorality are more appropriate in times of war, rather than peace. He states that only in times of war are these acts “praiseworthy and glorious,” and they should not be done in times of peace. He is morally condemning those who commit these acts at any time they please, stating that while it may bring them spoils and land, no glory will come from these choices (Parkinson). Machiavelli holds that just because a ruler may be exemplary at gaining territory and making treaties does not mean that they are a person to be admired and looked up to. He argues that a man may fall short of all the glory one may think is due to him if he is not a morally upstanding person, as there is a certain amount of glory that is due only to those whose moral compass is strong and accurate.