“All the states, all the dominions, under whose authority men have lived in the past
and live now have been and are either republics or principalities.” In Machiavelli’s, The
Prince, timeless keys to a successful principality are examined. The keys are understanding
human nature, respecting that nature, and reaffirming that successful leadership can exist
in the same fashion yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Machiavelli’s perspective of human nature is founded on the principle that people
in general don’t want their culture changed by an outside influence. Machiavelli
demonstrates in the book that the nature of people is to defend who they are. When “the
prince” attempts to change their culture in
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Only through an understanding of the nature of his subjects, having an ability to
control his subjects, and possessing the means to defend his subjects can “the prince” truly
find the universal key to open the door to upholding the ideals of practical leadership.
When a prince understands the nature of the people it is easier for him to enter the land.
Machiavelli writes of the Romans and how they developed their empire, “the Aetolians
once brought the Romans into Greece; and in every other country they invaded, the
Romans were brought in by the inhabitants.” Because the Romans understood human
nature their movement into power was unchallenged. Once in power it is essential for the
prince to be able to control the people. “I say that a prince must want to have a reputation
for compassion rather than cruelty: none the less, he must be careful that he does not
make bad use of compassion.” When Machiavelli wrote this he was outlining the key to
controlling the people. The prince needs to be able to keep the people united, and loyal to
him and at the same time ensure respect for the laws by instilling a fear for punishment.
One of Machiavelli’s most used examples of a successful prince is Cesare Borgia. It is
essential to be feared not hated and in the case of Borgia his minister Remirro de Orco
punished law breakers in a cruel fashion that led to people hating Borgia. To create a
feeling
He says that force is necessary when the law fails. A prince can use these interchangeable traits to deceive people and break promises.
A prince is respected as well when he is a true friend and a true enemy, meaning that he sides with another prince against another with no reservation. A prince should show that he that he is a lover of talent and give recognition to men who have ability. He should encourage his subjects to be free in trade and reward them because they are benefiting his city or state by aggrandizing it.
A prince has plenty to worry about during times of war and everyone is out to get you so you must be greedy and heinous in times of war. The prince declares that the nation state comes first before individuals.
As such, it is very dangerous to impose a new order where one may face attack by hostile forces and have only “lukewarm” defenders of the new order. It is then necessary to examine how the prince will utilize his virtue. If he is to “beg” and ask others for help, he is then seen as week and cannot accomplish his goal. The alternative is to use “force”, to arm themselves, and to literally force those who do not believe in the new order to believe. After all, human nature is changeable and easily changed, but difficult to maintain in a certain persuasion, after which force is necessary to maintain it. And once created through great difficulty, it is then easy to maintain, as under the prince’s rule, the need for force will lessen, since those who would rebel are eliminated and the ruler gains reputation and respect from his subjects.
Back in the monarchy day, where an entire nation is rule by a person, either a King or a Queen. People assuming that every single ruler have to be kind and set a good example to their people. However, in the four excerpt of the “Prince”, written by Machiavelli Niccolo, a diplomat and political theorist, to send a message to Lorenzo de’ Medicito on how to be a successful prince. Machiavelli express in an understand tone that to be a good ruler it is necessary to be both evil and good by using a compound-complex sentence with negative adjectives, reality example and visuality imagery.
Also, as stated by Niccolo Machiavelli, incorporated within Sayre’s book, a Prince must be “discreet enough to know how to avoid the infamy of…vices that would deprive him of his government” (80). In other words, when it comes to political means, a prince should avoid all the things of life that make him appear weak in nature. It’s obvious that if a leader is weak then so are his subjects, and the downfall is grand. Niccolo took this matter very
As the Prince is described as demanding his character proves that he understands the level of power and control he has. The prince also understands how much respect he expects from his subjects.
The citizens would be more willing to try and defend the prince, especially if they follow the previous virtue of living with their citizens. Although a prince should maintain a relationship with their citizens, they must also try not to only do what their people want them to do. (87) A prince needs to be able to make decisions that their people do not want, if it benefits their kingdom. This goes back to the initial definition of how a prince must lead with fear and not allow their citizens to hate them. So a prince should make decisions that will benefit the people, even if it is not what is the general interest of the public. If a prince does not make unpopular decisions, their state will weaken. By making unpopular decisions, the prince shows that they are doing what they think is best for the other citizens and is thinking of the future of the
A prince must learn not to be limited to morality when unavoidable; a leader has to be able to use lies, force and deception if required in the world. Whether it is better to be feared or loved clearly addresses the reason for this.
This analogy in The Prince also applies to modern rulers. This method is used by
tain power. The minor details do not matter. The importance lies in the fact that in a monarchy
When people are put into different situations they must act accordingly. When their life is in danger they must do what it takes to survive, and when a man is made prince he must adjust to his situation. He must act accordingly so that he can remain in power. Machiavelli feels that a price should be generous, but not so generous that he loses everything in the process. Machiavelli says, “… for when he is poor, nobody will respect him.” The prince gets his money from the people, and to give them everything that they want he would have to increase taxes and that would anger his people. Machiavelli is right when it comes to a prince being generous. You must be generous enough that your people remain happy and respectful, but stingy enough that you do not end up poor trying to please them.
Machiavelli has long been required reading for everyone intrested in politics and power. In The Prince Niccolo M
power. A prince had to be tricky and should harm people to own his legacy and to
success where as he talks greatly of the new prince and how he can and