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Machiavelli the qualities of a prince summary
Niccolo Machiaveli the prince summary
Niccolo Machiaveli the prince summary
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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. An ideal leader must be assertive in the sense that he is able to stand up for himself without undue anxiety, express his beliefs and honest feelings comfortably in direct and honest ways without denying the rights of others. This would enable him to lead his people in unison. Machiavelli says that, "it is necessary to be a great pretender and a dissembler"(Machiavelli 186). If this were true of our time, then it any liar could be considered a good …show more content…
For an unjust leader equates an unjust law which is "a code that is out of harmony with the moral law"(King 207). When there is any kind of injustice in a system, especially in the centre of it all, the whole system would collapse, the oppressed would seek for justice in one way or another, the loyal supporters would loose faith in the leader, the leader cannot contain the people, and the system would crumble into bits just like the Roman Empire. When situations get bad "so long as a he keeps his subjects united and loyal, a prince ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty" (Machiavelli 180), said Machiavelli, is not an acceptable style either for it simply means that a ruler can do whatsoever-he-seeks-fit. An ideal ruler should be wise enough to know that just because majourity is happy and that there seems to be uniformity in the nations does not mean that all is well; the oppressed could be patient for some time to just maintain order, but that poise is not always maintained-demonstrations are ultimately the end results of such …show more content…
"A wise ruler cannot and should not keep his words when such observance of faith would be to his disadvantage" ( Machiavelli 186), but this is utter nonsense given the time period we are in now; it says that a ruler should be able to change his words when he perceives it as necessary and beneficial. Rulers of all kind-simple actions to quote-on-quote heroic actions, would manipulate such privilege. In many countries around the world, people are being chastised and oppressed by ruthless leaders, as in the Middle East, that lack such integrity to be morally upright in their principles. For instance, previous leaders such as Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Fidel Castro has shown how corrupted a ruler who lacks veracity could be. He would not care for his people, he could commit mass genocide as did Adolphus Hitler in Nazi Germany and did the Akazu elite politicians in Rwanda or even brainwash his people to the point that the no nothing beside the propaganda that is often displayed in this country as in North Korea. A person in power should be able to maintain a true, honest and genuine personality inside and out; he should not be switching faces depending on situations faster than a chameleon changes
What is the attitude of a true leader? We all have different opinions toward the idea of a “true leader”. Some say a true leader must be loved, others say they must be feared. Some say they should be compassionate towards humanity, others say they should be indifferent. One of the famous theories of leadership is proposed in Machiavelli’s The Prince. Tempered through strife and conflict, characters in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are forced to undertake harsh, Machiavellian stances to augment their authority. For those who command Machiavellian traits, it is nothing more than a visage–an image that does not reveal the manifestation of the failure to implement Machiavelli’s advice on ruling, where their downfall can be traced.
Machiavelli believes that a government should be very structured, controlled, and powerful. He makes it known that the only priorities of a prince are war, the institutions, and discipline. His writings describes how it is more important for a prince to be practical than moral. This is shown where he writes, "in order to maintain the state he is often obliged to act against his promise, against charity, against humanity, and against religion" (47). In addition, Machiavelli argues that a prince may have to be cunning and deceitful in order to maintain political power. He takes the stance that it is better for the prince to be feared than loved. His view of how a government should run and his unethical conduct are both early signs of dictatorship.
In the many sections Niccolo Machiavelli writes he constantly compares to extreme qualities, one of which is ideal, the other real. These extremes include love(ideal) vs fear, clemency(ideal) vs cruelty, generous(ideal) vs stingy, and integrity(ideal) vs lying. In comparing these different traits Machiavelli highlights the merits of opposing characteristics and (specifically)when it is effective to act in certain ways. He argues that a balance of both are vital as to prevent a prince from dipping too far into a pool of inescapable extremism. The following excerpts display the author’s contrast-centered style: “ Thus, it's much wiser to put up with the reputation of being a miser, which brings you shame without hate, than to be forced—just
Machiavelli is “a crystal-clear realist who understands the limits and uses of power.” -- Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jared Diamond (2013)
For all of Machiavelli’s ruthlessness and espousal of deceit, he knew the value of authenticity and relying on his administration. A true leader cannot achieve greatness alone. Machiavelli says that the prince is the state, and the state is the prince. This means that whatever vision and principles the leader holds in the highest regard, they must be known to the state so that they can be realized. He believed that no matter how a prince was elected, his success would depend largely on his ministers. Collaboration between a prince and ministers would create an atmosphere of harmony and camaraderie, highly reducing the chances of rebellion. Without the support and cooperation of the people, military action is not possible, expansion is not possible and most importantly, governance is not possible. If a leader does not satisfy the needs of the people, they have the power to overthrow him through strength in numbers. Thus, a leader depends just as much on the people as they do on him. A leader must be able to convince the people to buy into his visio...
Additionally, The Prince states that secular forms of government are more realistic than pious ones because a pious government would be bound by morals. In the Prince, Machiavelli tries to convey that the end justifies the means, which means any thing goes. He claims that it would be ideal for a prince to possess all the qualities that are deemed good by other men, but states that no leader can accomplish that. He also states that the security of the state should be the prince’s first priority and it must be protected by any means necessary. Although, this can be true in certain cases, Machiavelli uses it as an excuse to use evil and cruel tactics.
How to become a successful and strong leader? What are essential characteristics that are imperative to become one? These questions were asked many centuries ago, as well as they are asked today. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote one of the most influential treatises on leadership that is still utilized in politics and management today. One of the defining conceptions he explores is locating a balance between being virtuous and righteous and practicing carefully selected deceit and cunning.
As he begins to conclude, Machiavelli states that the prince: “should think about avoiding those things which make him hated and despised.” (Mach 48) Although these lack any withstanding moral values, they are effective in the sense that they better serve their purpose. Machiavelli was seeking to display a way to hold political power by any means possible not a utopian state. This may mean malicious acts, imprisonment, and torture, or it may mean the utilization of power to achieve a common good. Machiavelli doesn’t elaborate on this. He concentrates on a realistic approach towards government, as he remains concerned with the establishment and protection of power.
To be influential enough to gain supporters you must possess many important skills and beliefs. A person that is easy going, unwary, and values to be adored is not likely to gain reverence or fans because they lack leadership qualities. According to Italian Renaissance leader; Niccolo Machiavelli, two important concepts needed in order to gain support are trusting no one and the combination of fear and love. These concepts are mimicked later in history by American rapper; Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls, on his journey to fortune.
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.
It is commonly believed by both lay people and political philosophers alike that an authoritative figure is good and just so long as he or she acts in accordance with various virtues. If the actions of a ruler are tailored toward the common good of the people rather than himself, then that ruler is worthy of occupying the status of authority. By acting in accordance with social and ethical norms, the ruler is deemed worthy of respect and authority. Niccolò Machiavelli challenges our moral intuitions about moral authority in his work, the Prince, by ruthlessly defending the actions made by the state in an effort to preserve power. In particular, all actions made by the state are done in order to preserve its power, and preserving the state’s power preservers its people. In doing so, whatever actions the state exercises are justified with this end goal in mind. Although such reasoning may seem radical, it is practice more readily that most people are inclined to believe. Machiavelli's moral philosophy is deeply embedded in the present day justice administration. Due to this, Machiavelli’s political thought can serve as a reference for illustrating how today’s administrators can benefit from following the examples of other great leaders, such as on matters of global warming.
Being a successful leader also means being able to anticipate trouble even when everything seems fine, and this forethought is what so many fail to consider. Using Italian rulers as an example of why Italian princes have lost their estates, Machiavelli writes, “ Their own indolence was to blame because having never imagined when times were quiet they they could change (and this is a common failing of mankind, never to anticipate a storm when the sea is calm), when adversity came their first thoughts were of flight and not of resistance. (page 78). A successful prince needs to be skilled in the art of war, but Machiavelli would agree that this skill is very useful for affairs aside international ones, such as domestic affairs. At one point or another a leader is faced with an arduous decision that involves hurting a part of the population. Machiavelli realizes that there is no realistic way of governing a group of people and keeping them all content at the same time, therefore a prince must systematically make tough decisions, keeping the majority content as the minority can not overthrow once you've taken everything they have. It may seem immoral to hurt the minority simply because they can not rebel, however, it makes far much more sense than causing hurt upon the majority, as that would make a prince contemptible, therefore staggering his political
Many people in history have written about ideal rulers and states and how to maintain them. Perhaps the most talked about and compared are Machiavelli's, The Prince and Plato's, The Republic. Machiavelli lived at a time when Italy was suffering from its political destruction. The Prince, was written to describe the ways by which a leader may gain and maintain power. In Plato?s The Republic, he unravels the definition of justice. Plato believed that a ruler could not be wholly just unless one was in a society that was also just. His state and ruler was made up to better understand the meaning of justice. It was not intended to be practiced like that of Machiavelli's. Machiavelli, acknowledging this, explains that it is his intention to write something that is true and real and useful to whoever might read it and not something imaginary,"?for many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen?(Machiavelli 375)." Therefore, because one ruler is realistic and the other imaginary, the characteristics of Machiavelli's ruler versus Plato's ruler are distinctly different.
Through his many years of experience with Italian politics Machiavelli wrote “The Prince”; a how-to guide for new rulers. We are given descriptions of what a leader should do to effectively lead his country. A leader should be the only authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy to serve his best interests. These interests are gaining, maintaining, and expanding his political power. Machiavelli’s idea is that a ruler should use a variety of strategies (virtues) to secure his power. Machiavelli lists five virtues that a ruler should appear to have; being compassionate, trustworthy, generous, honest and religious. A ruler should possess all the qualities considered good by other people.
"Thi Pronci" by Nocculu Mechoevillo os ebuat thi urogonetoun uf e pronci. Muri ur liss huw e pronci cen stert frum thi buttum end bicumi e griet kong ur doi et thi fiit uf hos piupli bifuri riechong hos promi. Tu bicumi e pronci thiri eri meny doffirint weys whoch os ixpleon on thos buuk fur ixempli "Tu errovi et thos pusotoun dipinds nut intorily un wurth". Stetong thet thiri eri e nambir uf wey yua cen bicumi e pronci by Fevur uf thi piupli, bat mast meonteon e hielthy froindshop end uffir prutictoun tu thi cotozins tu bi un guud stenderds thriw uat thi cummanoty. Cromi ur voulinci elsu cen bi e bog fectur un geon puwir end rispict tu lied thi piupli hevong thim fier yua es pronci. Alsu thiri eri muri netarel weys uf bicumong e pronci by biong Borth ontu e femoly uf ruyel hostury bat stoll hevong thi semi bardin tu chuusi yuar ruli tu geon puwir, luvi ur furtani es e liedir. Thriw uat thi stury ot govis yua en uatloni uf chuusong yuar ruli es e pronci yua cen lovi end sirvir on e guud wey, sach es biong et piech woth yuar kongdum ur coty siiong huw "A wosi pronci shuald fulluw somoler mithuds end nivir rimeon odli on piecifal tomis" by ribaoldong ur riechong uat tu thi piupli ot cuald sivir griet edvirsoty. Su of furtani chengis thi kongdum woll stoll bi bihond yua nu mettir whet cumis on thi nier deys tu cumi. At thi semi tomi yuar ermy woll niglict yua of thiy fiil loki ot's tuu mach pieci on thi erie end nut inuagh wer. Cuald pussoboloty ceasi yua tu bicumi totlid es suft ur wiek tu uthir ondovodaels end pirheps telk emung thi kongdum wuald spried loki e bed girm end cuald lied tu e pronci biong uvir thruwn ur kollid. Whoch lieds tu thi brekong puont uf thi stury whiri e pronci cuald teki thi sevegi end crail ruati. Tekong edventegi uf hos puwir end nut elluwong thi piupli tu bier erms end hori furiognirs es suldoirs tu stringth thi ermy whu prutict yua end thi cotozins wothon yuar wells. Steyong luyel tu thusi whu pat thiri lofi un thi loni dey on end dey uat ur jast foght fur yua ur e lung yua cuald lied tu luts uf wielth end furtani end puwir.