Businesses are essential to our economy and it is what makes our world prosper. Big and small businesses alike, they all play an important role in our economy. Every business is unique in its own way. They are set up using different strategies whether it is in communication pathways or how to expand or invest their money in order to maximize potential revenue. What is even more encapsulating is how they developed their reputation and what strategies they used to either rise or fall in their respected industries. In Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” the book shows a cunning and schematic side of how a ruler should conquer and maintain their states. This book was written as a gift, or rather a job application, for Lorenzo de’ Medici who was the Prince …show more content…
These opportunities provide changes that can either be beneficial or damaging, but nevertheless, it is important to know when these chances arise and make decisions based on the overall benefits. Machiavelli mentions a principle that discusses the rising to opportunities that appear in front of the prince and knowing when to take on challenges that pose a high risk. He writes, “All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger, but calculating risk and acting decisively." The author is advising the prince that he will come across many struggles and challenges along the way, and sometimes the decisions will be hard, but nevertheless, the prince would be wise to recognize that there are opportunities for him to expand his power and growth, or even maintain it. This principle can be applied to the business world, because the success of a business can be measured by pure chance, skills and dedication, commitment, and risks taken. Sometimes, it is hard to see which decision can provide the most beneficial outcomes. However, business and individuals alike should recognize these decisions as an opportunity for them to improve and grow. A risk taker is an individual or an organization who risks losing something in hopes of gaining or achieving something greater than what they already have. Taking risks are nothing like gambling. These are calculated …show more content…
Machiavelli, author of “The Prince,” discusses many principles that he believed a strong leader should have. Although situations were very different in Machiavelli’s time, some of those beliefs can be interpreted to our generation of individuals and even businesses today. As a leader in social networking services, Twitter showed similar principles and guidelines that Machiavelli highlighted in his novel. The classic principles of risk-taking, being feared rather than loved, and depending on virtue rather than fortune, has gone beyond time and stayed relevant in the 21st Century. In the past, Machiavelli’s book was frowned upon and he gained many critics due to the separation of politics and ethics. This made him look cruel, manipulative, and ruthless. Comparatively, emperors and subjects have long been a part of human history. From a different perspective, Twitter is an emperor, whereas the active users are the subjects. In order to consistently provide contentment and maintain the loyalty of their users, the social networking leader has to offer new features by taking risks, remain favorable perspective from their users, and focus on improving their skills rather than depending on people to bring them good fortune. From a general business perspective, the main goal for any business it to earn money, sometimes without using established business ethics. This can be shown when any
The book “The Prince” was made by Nicolo Machiavelli and is still followed by politicians to this day. Nicolo Machiavelli was an Italian politician, writer, historian, philosopher and humanist in the 16th century. He wrote a book describing many aspects on how he believed the “Perfect Prince” should act like. The book was first written in 1513, but it was not published until 1532 and it was dedicated to Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici. Many people say that Machiavelli would (in some aspect) consider Adolf Hitler a true prince. Adolf Hitler was born on April 20th, 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary. When he first came to Germany he joined WW1 and that is when his love for war developed. After WW1 Hitler entered politics, and since Germany was
of participating in a conspiracy to restore the republic, because of this he was sent to jail for three weeks, and tortured. He fled the city of Florence, and decided to settle down in a calm quiet town called Sant’Andrea. He also decided to continue his dream and career as a writer. In 1513 he started to write his Discourses, this book focused on states controlled by the prince and the citizens. It was not finished until 1521, because he interrupted his work on Discourses to write the very famous The Prince.
The 16th century novella The Prince by Niccoló Machiavelli discoursed on politics and set standardized methods of obtaining and maintaining power in varying situations. Despite Machiavelli using historical and dated examples to fortify his claims, the ideology behind his novella has held true for the past 500 years. The Prince on several occasions discusses the power struggle between the nobility and the common people; the situation in the United States differs from Machiavelli’s model in that wealthy groups and individuals compete for political influence at the expense of the voice of the nation’s citizens. Special interest groups, particularly large corporations, relentlessly lobby Congress to support legislation that benefits a small handful of individuals. Politicians operate on receiving large campaign donations in order to maintain political power and their exorbitant salary. The Prince supports that a leader who sides with the most powerful faction will enjoy greater
...cause he didn't teach anything that wasn't already known to powerful leaders. In fact, in his address to Lorenzo de Medici, as I noted earlier, he states that the conclusions he makes are drawn from his knowledge of history. Throughout the book he makes references to historical situations and events that employ the very means to political success he describes. What is great about The Prince is not its original content but that it mirrors the politics of his time as well as our time. The book is a product of the Italian Renaissance in that it attempts to explain how things really are rather than how they are perceived.
Niccolo Machiavelli lived in Florence, Italy in the 1400’s. The country of Italy was divided into city-states that had their own leaders, but all pledged alliance to their king. In time in which great leaders were needed in order to help the development of a city-state and country, Machiavelli had a theory that man needed a leader to control them. In his book The Prince, he speaks of the perfect leader.
“The Prince”, by Niccolo Machiavelli, is a series of letters written to the current ruler of Italy, Lorenzo de’ Medici. These letters are a “how-to” guide on what to do and what not to do. He uses examples to further express his views on the subject. The main purpose was to inform the reader how to effectively rule and be an acceptable Prince. Any ruler who wishes to keep absolute control of his principality must use not only wisdom and skill, but cunning and cruelness through fear rather than love. Machiavelli writes this book as his summary of all the deeds of great men.
Machiavelli illustrates several key points in what it takes to be a "successful" Prince. In chapters 5-10, Machiavelli is giving us a true image of the coldhearted reputation he has carried throughout the years. He explains his ideas on taking over a "free" state or republic and how to conquer and rule with the peoples loyalty and respect.
Machiavelli's views have been misinterpreted since his book was first written, people take him in the wrong way, and are offended by what he says. Careless readers take him in a completely wrong way, such as they think that he believes that the end justifies the means, that a leader should lie to the people, and that a ruler has to rule with force. In actuality, Machiavelli means no such thing, he says that there are times when the common good outweighs the means, and the morality of a rulers actions. He also says that you cannot be loved by everyone, so try to be loved and feared at the same time, but of the two, choose to be feared. The Prince is considered to be one of the most important of nonfiction literature written in the history of mankind. It gave an accurate and truthful description of the method of governing.
Although, Machiavelli argues that an ideal ruler must be cruel, feared and unjust in order to maintain power in his paper, "The Prince", this is not necessary true. An ideal ruler must be assertive, just and filled with integrity to maintain power, prestige, and the loyalty of those he governs.
Niccoló Machiavelli claims in “The Qualities of the Prince” that a prince must have certain qualities that will allow him to seize and maintain his power as a ruler. Machiavelli asserts that these qualities will guarantee the ruler to be able to govern his subjects effectively. According to him, a prince must study the art of war, must understand generosity and to what extent he must be generous to be effective, must choose to either be loved or feared, and be able to keep his word to his citizens according to the situation. These qualities can still apply in today’s politics, and will be useful for a modern time politician as long as they are used carefully.
In the sixteenth century, there were three sets of socioeconomic statuses that one could acquire or be a part of, the clergy, the nobility, and the peasantry. The divide between these three generalized classes was far more complicated in reality that it seems, as socioeconomic classes consist of multiple branches. Nonetheless, it all essentially came down to two undeniable factions, the oppressors and the oppressed. Niccolo Machiavelli, being a mixture of the two due to his living situation while writing the book, gained a middle-ground which allowed him to achieve omnipotent intelligence that so many rulers normally lack, first hand experience of what it like to live both lives, one as a peasant and the other as a nobleman. This omnipotent
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli isn't about one man's ways to feed his power hungry mindset through gluttony, nor is it just explaining altercations between a nation's states. This writing is regarding to how one's self-confidence can make them become powerful in a society and also, the way morals and politics differ and can be separate in a government. Originally, Machiavelli wrote The Prince to gain support from Lorenzo de' Medici, who during the era, was governor of Florence. As meant as writing for how a society should be run, this book has been read by many peoples around the world who want to have better knowledge of the perfect stability of beliefs and politics required to run a good civilization.
Machiavelli is “a crystal-clear realist who understands the limits and uses of power.” -- Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jared Diamond (2013)
However immoral The Prince may be, Niccolò Machiavelli’s handbook on preserving power continues to ring true as his teachings flourish in the hands of businesses, politicians, and leaders worldwide. Take Donald J. Trump, an esteemed businessman and television personality who has emulated Machiavelli’s prince in his first year as president. He appeared humane, compassionate, trustworthy, honest, and religious which twisted him into a political prince set to protect his power. Although, if one truly practices these virtues, remaining in office will be out of the question. Likewise, The Prince states, “a ruler, especially a ruler new to power, can't always behave in ways that would make people think a man good, because to stay in power he's frequently
“To be Machiavellian has for centuries meant to be willing to do anything in the quest for power” (Brunello). Machiavellian political instruction has been in use for hundreds of years, and in fact some of the most notable and powerful people in the world have been influenced by the words of Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince. The Prince, a political treatise written in 1505 and published in 1532 was considered one of the first writings of political philosophy. The book has held up against the test of time by continuing to be a relevant read throughout the world with many comparing current and past world leaders to the characteristics defined by Machiavelli. There are a few basic tenets of Machiavelli’s political instruction, they are simple and