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Machiavelli's Abuse Of Power

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In The Prince, Machiavelli’s primary focus is on how a prince should act when exercising his political power. Machiavelli argues that a prince should first separate his public and private life. Therefore, a prince must be willing to deceive his people in thinking he is the best suited leader. Although a prince may need to act immoral at times, he must not abuse his power. A prince must only practice acts of manipulation, coercion, and deceit, to protect his power. Machiavelli’s description of a desirable prince is one who induces fear, but avoids hatred. Machiavelli contends that “when it is necessary for [a prince] to proceed against the life of someone, he must do it on proper justification and for manifest cause, but above all things he

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