Machiavellis The Prince

“The state is the highest achievement of man, a progressive and elaborate creation of his free will. The individual, the leader, the people, cooperate in maintaining it.” This idea of state was put forth by Niccolo Machiavelli in The Prince, which was in essence a ruler’s handbook to governing and maintaining his land. Machiavelli conjured his theories for government by basing his ideas in his belief that men, especially men in power, tend to follow the same directions, and therefore by looking at past leaders and their follies we can better determine how to run a state. “Men are always the same and are animated by the same passions that lead them fatally to the same decisions, acts, an results…. That one can foresee the course of political development by mediating upon the cycles and phases of historical events, and that essential to a statesman is not only the experience of modern events and constant study of the past. But also the ability to exploit this knowledge in actual political actions.”

One of the ways a Prince or ruler is to exploit this knowledge is to understand that one of the most important things a ruler must be focused on is war. In order for a nation, empire, or state to remain and continue in its strength its leader must build its foundation on military strength and know the ‘art of war’. “Military power is the foundation and strength of the state. Persuasion alone is not enough for men are bad and inconstant.” “A prince therefore must have no other object or thought nor acquire skill in anything, except war, its organization, and its discipline. The art of war is all that is expected of a ruler; and it is so useful that besides enabling hereditary princes to maintain their rule it frequently enables ordinary citizens to become rulers…The first way to lose your state is to neglect the art of war; the first way to win a state is to be skilled in the art of war.” Son in order for a ruler or leader to maintain a stable country, he must have a strong military to back him, and know how to use those forces to strengthen his country. Even in the last century, long after Machiavelli, this idea held constant in picking a leader, most often great leaders were war heroes and commanders of great armies. Not only in other countries, but also in this country even in the very beginning of our new government; our first leader was General George Washingt...

... middle of paper ...

...a fake, more honorable appearance of a prince, then that which he really is. He is saying that in essence a good ruler, in order to maintain his good disposition, must also be a good liar, and “know how to do evil, if that is necessary.” In order to get their way in a certain matter many men in power today are deceitful, and tend not to tell the whole truth. For example the Watergate scandal is a good example of how President Nixon and other leaders were deceitful, because they were trying to stay in their position power.

Machiavelli says that the only ways to set about the task of conquering and maintaining a state are through military power and presence, an appearance of virtuousness, and a cunning and crafty mind. Through these characteristics, that have been illustrated by rulers like Alexander the Great, Caesar, and Marcus Aurelius, great nations and empires were formed, and according to Machiavelli it is through these ideas that new nations, empires and great leaders will emerge.

"A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it."