The Prince

Machiavelli broke the pattern set in classical political thought; His perception of ethics and politics are severly different than of those before him. Machiavelli preaches to individuals referred to as princes, who seek glory and power to become cold calculating effective dictators. Machiavelli takes a radical stand on leadership, on how to run the state in an appropriate manner. According to Machiavelli, a prince’s ultimate objective is political stability and maintaining the states sovereignty. The backbone of the state must be that of a military style rule. A prince must act as a dictator in order to maintain his position as the sole ruler. Machiavelli assumes shared power will not be effective with other nobles, “since the nobles are more perceptive and cunning….furthermore a prince must always live with the common people". Considering, the nobles are unforgiving and greedy it would be dangerous if not downright suicidal for a prince to rely on their good will. Machiavelli’s view of human nature, his concept of virtu, and the role of morality in government are the essential skills required by any ruler to establish a safe and thriving state based on one absolute leader.

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Niccolò Machiavelli has a despairing outlook on humans in society. Common man is described as being a simple-minded deceitful creature, wicked, selfish, and bent on wanting money and glory. "While they work for your benefit they are completely yours, offering you their blood, their property, their lives… when the need to do so is far away…when it draws nearer to you they turn away.”(Machiavelli. 58) They are content and happy so as long as they are not victims of something terrible. They may be trustworthy in prosperous times, but they will quickly turn selfish, deceitful, and profit-driven in times of ...

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