Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. Machiavelli was believed to be one of the most contentious political philosophers of his time. Machiavelli began working in the Florence government at a young age, employed as a "Florentine secretary." Throughout his employment with the government of Florence, Machiavelli started to notice the power that one person had over an entire country. In 1513 Machiavelli wrote what would become one of his most well-known works “The Prince,” in which Machiavelli voices his political concepts of ruling a country. “The Prince,” explains the political struggles of being ruled by callous leaders and power battles. “The Prince is considered a guide book to how leaders can gain and keep the power …show more content…
Hereditary principalities are those in which rule is inherited, it is a basis for a firm government. There is much to be said about people’s longing for change: “And in the antiquity and continuity of the government,” he writes, “people forget not only the reasons for innovations but their very existence, because every new change provides a footing to build on another.” Mixed principalities are territories that are annexed to the ruler 's existing territories. New principalities may be acquired by several methods: by one 's own power, by the power of others, by criminal acts or extreme cruelty, or by the will of the people (civic principalities). Ecclesiastical principalities namely the Papal States belonging to the Catholic …show more content…
The Prince is based around the need for bold, prompt plans, the need of action, and the handling of politics as a science, full of rules and conditions. Machiavelli explains that “a prince must be both human and beast, and as beast he must be both lion and fox. He must embrace the flaws of humanity; he must rely on both thought and action; he must look to the past as he heads toward the future.” I enjoyed how Machiavelli simplified things in order to better understand them. There were two quotes that I rather enjoyed, Machiavelli wrote, “Then virtue boldly shall engage/And swiftly vanquish barbarous rage/Proving that ancient and heroic pride/In true Italian hearts has never died.” A bold statement that explains one’s patriotism to its country. “There is no figure presently in sight,” he writes, “in whom [Italy] can better place her trust than your illustrious house, which, with its fortune and its merits, favored by God and the Church of which it is now the head, can take the lead in this process of redemption.” A powerful statement that explains that as long as God and the Church are in the forefront no weapon formed can withstand that kind of
In Niccolo Machiavelli's book, The Prince (1513), he evaluates on how a prince can be a successful leader. Machiavelli’s purpose of this guidebook was to construct his argument to the rising ruler Giuliano de Medici for when he comes to power in Florence. He adopts a casual but authoritative tone in order to convince the prince that Machiavelli’s evaluation on how to be the best prince, is the right thing for the prince to do without coming off as he knows more than the prince or is trying to intimidate him.. Machiavelli’s reference to previous rulers and whether their tactics failed or succeeded helps to benefit his credibility along with his allusion to historic text. He appeals to our logic by simply stating a prince can only do what is within his power to control, and his use of an analogy furthers his argument.
Thomas Jefferson and Niccolo Machiavelli both believe that the actions of the people shape the characteristics of the ruler and define the type of authority that will be held towards the people. Machiavelli, the first great political philosopher of the Renaissance, argues all men are untrustworthy due to their selfish, self-interested and impulsive ways of life in his writing, The Morals of the Prince, and therefore, to keep the people under control the ruler must be prepared to be cruel and instill fear among the people. Opposing Machiavelli is Jefferson. In The Declaration of Independence Jefferson believes people can be trusted since they have the ability to make their own decisions. Whereas Machiavelli supports tyranny, Jefferson believes
Niccolo Machiavelli was an in Italian Philosopher, historian, diplomat, and war strategist. He was born in Florence Italy in 1469. His mother’s name was Bartolomea di Stefano Nelli and his father’s name was Bernado di Niccolo. He was the youngest of three children. Machiavelli was born during very hectic era where countries such as Spain and the Holy Roman Empire were battling for regional control.
Niccolò Machiavelli, better known as the father of modern political theory, wrote the famous socio-political treatise The Prince, during a dark time in his career. In The Prince, there are several policies that can be found in the American government, specifically in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. Many of our American leaders have adopted similar policies as Machiavelli's book is recognized as a political manual for many leaders. Obviously, there are many common themes in The Prince and The United States government's policies, such as the idea of arming one's citizens along with how leaders are brought to power; however, there are also many differences, in particular, the distribution of power in government.
Niccolo Machiavelli was a prominent figure throughout Florence Italy and the rest of the world. May he rest in Peace. Dear Niccolo was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence Italy and very sadly passed onto the next life on June 21, 1527. In his home town Florence, Niccolo was very loved, but also despised but mainly loved and revered by those who truly knew him from his gentle and forgiving heart. Niccolo grew up with his loving and gentle two sisters, and his adventurous brother.
Machiavelli wrote about a fictitious prince, describing how he is a terrible being who has no respect for people who have a lower status than him. He is described as being selfish and untrustworthy. His writing about this prince was supposed to replicate princes and kings that were ruling and open he reader’s eyes to real issues occuring. In Document 1 there is an excerpt from The Prince, written by Machiavelli, telling about how terrible the Prince of England. Document 1 states, “For all men in general this observation may be made: they are ungrateful, fickle, and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers, and avid for gain, and while you are useful to them they are all with you, but when it [danger] approaches they turn on you”.
The Prince and the Discourses, by Machiavelli as a gift to the prince. Because it was the best thing that Niccolo Machiavelli could give to him. He was trying to teach the prince ways to stay in power. Machiavelli even stated it himself “I can consider of this subject, discussing what a principality is, the variety of such states, how they are won, how they are held, and how they are lost” (Machiavelli xxiv). The main focus of his work was with monarchies because he did not care for republics.
One aspect of Machiavelli’s theory which significantly contributes to his reputation as the “philosopher of evil,” is his advice to the prince on keeping their word to the public. In chapter eighteen, Machiavelli states, “a wise ruler cannot, and should not, keep his word when doing so is to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that led him to promise to do so no longer apply” (pg. 37). To simplify, Machiavelli says princes are obligated to lie in certain circumstances. He also states that while it is unnecessary for the prince to have positive qualities, such as honesty, trustworthiness, sympathy, compassion, or be religious, it is essential for the prince to be viewed so by the public (pg. 37). While many people argue that Machiavelli’s legitimization of lying and deception in politics is immoral, I argue the opposite.
The Father of Modern Politics, Niccolo Machiavelli, was born in the year 1469, during the period of the Italian Renaissance. Little is known about his early life, but it has been speculated that he attended the University of Florence. The point at which we know the most about Machiavelli is from the beginning of his political career onwards. He was appointed Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence, after the overthrow of the Medici family. When the Medici regained power, Machiavelli was accused of plotting against them and tortured and imprisoned for a period.
Both of these highly influential authors had different opinions on ruling that would shape how people would rule during their time and for rulers to come. One of Machiavelli’s major points in The Prince was that it was better to be feared than to be loved. He said this was because while both ways can be useful tools to help one rule, men are less likely to turn a ruler if they were afraid of punishment. Machiavelli had little faith in the common man and had this to say about them, “They are ungrateful, fickle, deceptive and deceiving, avoiders of dangers, eager to gain”(pg.353).
John Webster, the great Elizabethan dramatist was little admired during his life time. The Elizabethans failed to appraise his genius as a dramatist and after his death he fell for nearly two hundred years into the lap of oblivion to be brought back into the limelight by the criticism of such distinguished critics as Lamb, Swinburne, Rupert Brooke, who popularised his works and establised his claim to be recognised as a great dramatist of Elizabethan age. But now the tide has turned in Webster 's favour and he is recognised today not as a dramatist who carried forward the revenge theme in drama but as a great poet, and above all, a great moralist, who held aloft the moral vision of life at a time when the dramatists of the age were piling horror and glorifying murder into a fine art. This tragedy THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, the revenge is further degraded and the moral motive of the dramatist come to the forefront. There are some influences of other Elizabethan authors.
According to Machiavelli, ideal prince is a risk-taker who puts a military on action, as the people respect the warrior. An ideal prince thinks for himself rather than relying on others, knows how to read characters, and does not surround himself with flatterers. He lives in reality, not fantasy. He works hard, utilizes his own mind, and makes survival of his guide. The ideal leader is neither loved nor hated, but respected.
Probably one of the most infamous and controversial ideologies of the 16th century, the prince by Machiavelli has been a reference for many great leaders and academicians since it was published. The book provides historically tested and proven principles of leadership. The prince has been described as a manual for those who want to win and retain power. While some may argue that leadership is an inherent trait in human, leaders are made, not born. Making a great leader out of a person is not just a matter of identifying the leadership traits, skill and talents of the individual, but harnessing the traits, develop them and eventually mastering how to be leader.
I. Machiavelli In his famous work the Prince Niccolo Machiavelli exposes what it takes to be a good prince and how only this good price and keep control over his state. There are many different qualities that make a man a good ruler but there are some that are more essential than others. In this work Machiavelli stresses the importance of being a warrior prince, a wise prince, and knowing how to navigate the duality of virtù and vices. Without these attributes there was no way that a prince could hold together their state and their people.
In his novel, the prince, nicolo machiavelli guides us to be a fruitful ruler. He clarifies the best routes for any ruler or sovereign to govern a region, bring prosper to the society, and keep up their position. This book can be read by anyone to get a few pointers on political issues. Most of the thoughts held by machivelli were linked to mercilessness and evil, hence they raised a considerable number of eyebrows. He maintains that the ruler 's primary goal should be conquering, staying in control of the general public and to always have the idea of war in mind.