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Power Is Not Evil In Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

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Power is not evil, it is the user that makes it evil. Machiavelli, a controversial figure in political history left a legacy of brutal reality which disturbed many people. Niccolo Machiavelli’s, The Prince explores the groundbreaking ideas for a prince to secure the leading position in government and retain his power and leadership. Human nature combined with power has the possibility of becoming tragically destructive. However, that wreckage stems from the environment, and the actions displayed from power demonstrate effective truth which inspires the wickedness in humans. Machiavelli’s logical reasoning exhibits self-interest and preservation which is a habitual characteristic of human nature. Machiavelli states, “And let it here be noted …show more content…

Machiavelli poses the question, “whether is is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved” (Chapter 17, Page 43). The patent answer would be, it is better to be loved and feared, but fear and love hardly ever converge. Machiavelli’s assessment to this question revives the concepts of human nature and virtue. The aspiration for a prince is to maintain the state, which involves the compliance of the people. Therefore, Machiavelli advocates that being feared is more dependable. Although, he is not prescribing violence, it is only in the interest of the state, which demonstrates human nature and …show more content…

Machiavelli’s advice is there for the people who hold power and exposes the truth in human nature. However, although Machiavelli opens up the honesty of humanity; he teaches that there are a lot of people who are not good, so one must also learn to not be good. The thing that is wrong with this is that evil does not combat with evil. Evil can not conquer evil, good conquers. Therefore, The Prince explores the reality of human nature as self-interested and wicked. Machiavelli deliberately tells the reader the choices of someone holding a power may face, and the environment power gives rise to alters the way the person may act. A choice can change the

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