The Powerful Truth of Machiavellis The Prince Essay

The Powerful Truth of The Prince Before 1513 conventional thought defined a ruler as a man who used generosity, truth and justice to govern his kingdom. Machiavelli saw the conventional thought of the time as a fantasy and only applicable in a utopian society. His work The Prince shatters all previous political thought by stating that a ruler must not only use the traditionally accepted means of maintaining power but also be able to use brute force, deceit and even cruelty as the situation requires. In the tumultuous political climate of renaissance Europe his theories were proven valid repeatedly. Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 into an old Florentine family with a history of political involvement.†¦show more content†¦He ultimately gained favor with the Medici family and was called back to work for the last two years of his life. The Prince is a result of studies of ancient history and of his experience as a secretary of the Florentine Republic. It was written for the ruling Medici family. Machiavelli hoped that by reading and understanding his writings the Medicis would realize that he was the top political analyst of his time and give him a high-ranking position in the government. In The Prince, Machiavelli states that in an ideal world, it is virtuous for a prince to be good. But in reality, princes who distance themselves from ethical concerns and do whatever it takes for the benefit of their states rule best. Therefore, it is better to be greedy than generous, cruel than loving, crafty than honest. Machiavellis general rule is to be as good as circumstances allow, but be willing to resort to any means necessary for the good of the country (Coleman, 147). A prince must be willing to resort to evil if that is what it takes to ensure the happiness and future of his subjects. Proper cruelty is done at one time and serves a specific purpose. Improper cruelty is repetitive and threatening to the citizens. A wise prince must be willing to practice proper cruelty in order to maintain power, but avoid improper cruelty so that his subjects do not turn on him and revolt. Perhaps the thing most emphasized by Machiavelli is the need for the support ofShow Mo reRelatedNiccolo Machiavellis The Prince810 Words   |  3 Pages Niccolo Machiavelli’s most famous book, The Prince, contains the most valid information for a prince, a president, and even a king, to keep hold of their own power. Machiavelli tells about the importance and power of political action, his opinions, and most of all philosophy at it’s finest. Throughout the twenty-six chapters of this book he describes the bold, brave, practical, and powerful prince and how the prince’s life should be lived. Machiavelli’s view of human nature is used as justificationRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1192 Words   |  5 Pagesbest. 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