Machiavelli's The Prince

The Renaissance represented a new era in which values such as secularism and power became prevalent in society. Machiavelli expresses the need for politics and religion to be separated throughout his book "The Prince". Previously rulers had been restricted by Christian principals, but Machiavelli held the idea that rulers were warranted in any action so as long as it benefited the general public. Machiavelli believed that politics existed outside the realm of religion and morals. Subsequently, he approved of using any means necessary to gain and keep power, including lying, stealing, and murder. During this time Italy's city-states were in political chaos and condottieri roamed the streets. Machiavelli thought it was the ruler's duty to maintain discipline and peace in society at any cost. Despite his intentions to help Italy, Machiavelli's ideas were often seen as immoral and dishonest. The idea of a purely political action where morals were set aside is later referred to as the " Reasons of the state". In addition, Machiavelli felt a ruler must be sly

When evaluating the political leaders in modern times there is one leader that wields his power the most like Niccolo Machiavelli’s Prince, from his book The Prince, that leader is President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation. Although, Putin does not hold the title of Prince, he has held influential positions throughout the years, i.e. Prime Minister and Acting President, that hold power similar to the Prince. Every position that Putin has held in Russia he has acted as if he were a Prince. Putin has held such all-consuming control and influence over Russia that some would say that Putin is “the state”, a position that Machiavelli strongly suggest that all Princes should have. Although, there are infinite examples showing Putin acting similar to Machiavelli’s Prince throughout the years, the current interaction between Syria and Russia exemplifies Putin’s similarity to Machiavelli’s Prince. In the interaction between Russia and Syria, Putin mostly resembles the trait of the Prince that Machiavelli describe in chapters 14, 18, and 21

For many centuries, there have been many leaders and rulers around the world making their own rules and decisions. In the Book “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli, Machiavelli describes ways that leaders can be successful if they follow his advice. One leader that shows Machiavelli’s advice by the way they rule is Adolf Hitler.The way he ruled was by fear, violence, and by conquering other countries. Although Hitler had some failures during his lifetime, he shows how Machiavelli’s advice is relevant in today's leaders.

Machiavelli’s The Prince talks about many issues of modern political philosophy, it was written to help rulers stay in power. His common themes are ruling through fear, being as powerful as a lion and as intelligent as a fox, and to maintain the state at all costs. One of the common discussions about his writings is what he means by “one must learn how to not be good.” For what reason should a ruler learn to not be good? He claims that being good and continuing to be good could only make a ruler more weak. He continues to list good and bad qualities of a ruler and claiming that every ruler will have at least one of the bad qualities but the way he conquers his unpraised attribute is most important. A ruler should hide his flaws so that he only

In the sixteenth century, barbarians from France, Spain, and Germany constantly fought for power in Italy, a country already fractured into quarrelling city-states. During this time, the exiled diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a guide for Lorenzo di Piero De’ Medici, Italy’s chosen ‘deliverer,’ in the hopes of being welcomed back into society. Throughout his guide, Machiavelli created the image of an ideal leader, shaped by the defeats and accomplishments of previous rulers. To sustain one’s rule successfully, Machiavelli believed that a leader needed the wisdom and prudence to act appropriately in difficult situations, as well as harbor minimal dependence on others for strength; a leader, most of all, was capable of facing

Machiavelli’s work The Prince is, evidently, a bit dated. However, the points that it expresses maintain their significance, even when monarchies are no longer the primary form of government. The Prince is relevant to contemporary society in today’s age as it relates to contemporary elements such as North Korea, World War II, and more.

Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. The Prince was written in 1513 but was published five years after Machiavelli’s death in 1527. Machiavelli wrote the Prince as advice to Lorenzo de’ Medici and as a plea for his position back in the Medici Florentine government. Machiavelli gives great advice on what a Prince should do in order to keep a country under his rule, but his main ideas are that a Prince should not be liked or loved by his people but feared and never hated and that a ruler should be willing to do everything in his powers to keep his kingdom stable, even if that means he needs to lie and get a little violent. When reading The Prince readers can see the ways it is reflected in today’s modern society.

In this paper, I will argue that a ruler should be beast-like and dishonest when it is beneficial. In section one, I will argue that deception is necessary to obtains one’s self-interests. Following that, being beast-like is necessary to keep a position of power such as being a ruler or politician. Lastly, I will present that it is better to be feared than loved. The ideas in The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, are known to be relevant in society today along with its time.

Niccolo Machiavelli, who lived during the Renaissance, was a politician, a philosopher, and an author. His most highly regarded book, “The Prince” details the ways in which Machiavelli believes the world should be run. By using real world examples, as well as his own opinion, Machiavelli puts up points about everything that could harm a ruler, but also about what could lead to a leader becoming one of the greats. Machiavelli’s work was accepted widely around the world, and still to this day is read around the world; not necessarily as a guide, but as an insight into the world that Machiavelli wanted. Leaders around the world currently follow many different methods to rule their people, however if they followed some of Machiavellis rules, there might be less backlash towards those in power. Rulers, in Machiavellis mind, must be smart and cunning, but also thoughtful of those he is ruling, because in the long run, the people of his kingdom can determine his fate.

In addition to the concerns of the people, another important factor a ruler must consider is how easily it is for him to be blamed for something; actions among his kingdom can very quickly be trailed back to his decisions. Machiavelli suggests that, “it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how now to be good, and to use this knowledge and not us it, according to the necessity of the case” (p. 63). Again, we see Machiavelli arguing that a prince must use the most basic practicality in addition to understanding the various virtues that complement it. This use of common sense for the benefit of the state calls for generosity, mercy, and craftiness as well as an appropriate level stubbornness and imperiousness.

The prince was written at a time when Italy was in chaos, in the Prince Machiavelli offers advice on how to an effective and successful ruler. in Machiavelli’s the prince he assumes that all men are bad egotistical, motivated by greed, and cowardly and can’t be trusted. Doing the righteous thing as a ruler according to moral codes, puts you at a disadvantage, people’s moral concerns are easily changed to suit their own needs. According to Machiavelli on the Prince, man will forgive you for killing his father, but do not touch his property, this is sacred “and above all others he must keep his hands off the property of others, because men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony”. REF HERE. FOR MACHIAVELLI

Machiavelli’s the Prince is a highly acclaimed and influential book to read by wide crowds of audiences. Machiavelli is not evil, he’s just a political expert that’s trying to return Florence to the former glory of itself before the liberation and drive out the foreigners. Throughout the book, it has historical examples on how to properly conquer a kingdom, marketing ploys, and colonizing tips. Also, this was how society was in the period of Medieval times and Renaissance because you would either need to conquer as many lands as possible in order to be seen as powerful and wealthy or be conquered by wealthier enemies.

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.

The political leader of a state deals with an extensive amount of responsibilities and practices when involved in international relations. Leadership is considered one of the most important aspects of handling a state. In our early readings of The Prince, Machiavelli presents us with his ideology and recommendations for being an appropriate leader of a state, specifically discussing how to be a successful prince. His opinions are followed by many political figures of our present day.

In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli explores the character that a prince must hold to be successful. The study of war should be a prince's main goal, “…for war is the sole art looked for in one who rules” (Machiavelli 37). Knowledge of war is necessary because it not only keeps princes in power, but can also make princes out of private citizens. If a prince neglects the art of war, he can easily lose a state. Military organization lays the foundation for the stability of the state and is a critical skill for both established and new rulers. There can be no security without military might. Machiavelli develops his idea through example and logic.