Machiavelli's treatise on government was rejected with horror by almost all early readers, but it accurately describes the means which rulers have always used to remain in power. As a pioneering study of practical politics it has often been compared with Kautilya's Arthasastra and the doctrines of the Chinese legalists, such as Han Fei Tzu. But what makes The Prince both more revolutionary and more controversial than either of these is the delight Machiavelli seems to take in scorning conventional morality. Indeed so cynical are such passages as the following that some readers have imagined that he must have been satirizing rather than advocating these ideas. In his work The Prince, he brings out the aspects of a new prince.
According to Machiavelli there are four main attributes that a prince should possess: intelligence, strength, determination, and tenaciousness. A prince must have the smarts to determine right from wrong. In times of trouble, he must know which path to take next. Strength ; a prince must be physically, and emotionally strong to face whatever comes at him. A prince's determination is very crucial in times of hardship. A prince must be willing to push on through the most difficult of times. He also must encourage his people and believe for himself that the struggle will soon be over.
A prince should understood that there are two types of fighting: one with laws and the other with force. The first is most suitable for men, the second is most suitable for beasts, but it often happens that the first is not enough, which requires that we have recourse to the second. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince to know how to act both as a man and as a beast. This was signified allegorically to princes by the ancient writers: they wrote that Achilles and many other ancient princes were given to be raised and tutored by the centaur Chiron, who took custody of them and disciplined them. This can only mean, this trainer who was half beast and half man, that a prince needs to know how to use either one or the other nature, and the one without the other will never last.
Since it is necessary for the prince to use the ways of beasts, he should imitate the fox and the lion, because the lion cannot defend himself from snares and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Therefore, it is important to be a fox in order to understand the snares and a lion in order to terrify the wolves. Those who choose only to be a lion do not really understand. Therefore, a prudent leader will not and should not observe his promises, when such observance will work against him and when the reasons for making the promise are no longer valid. If all men were good, this precept would not be good; but since men are evil and will not keep their word with you, you shouldn't keep yours to them. Never has a prince lacked legitimate reasons to break faith. This can be shown by an infinite number of examples from modern times, numerous peace treaties and promises that have been broken and made completely empty by the faithlessness of princes: these knew well how to use the ways of the fox, and they are the ones who succeed. But it is necessary to know how to hide this nature and to simulate a good character and to dissimulate: for the majority of men are simple and will only follow the needs of the present, so that the deceiver can always find someone he can deceive. Alexander VI (1) never did or thought about anything else except deceiving people and always found some reason or other to do it. There was never a man who was better at making assurances, or more eager to offer solemn promises, or who kept them less; yet he always succeeded in his deceptions beyond his wildest dreams, because he played his role in the world so well.
Therefore, a prince doesn't need to have all the qualities mentioned earlier, but it is necessary that he appear to have them.
Also having good qualities and always practicing them is harmful, while appearing to practice them is useful. It's good to appear to be pious, faithful, humane, honest, and religious, and it's good to be all those things; but as long as one keeps in mind that when the need arises you can and will change into the opposite. It needs to be understood that a prince, and especially a prince recently installed, cannot observe all those qualities which make men good, and it is often necessary in order to preserve the state to act contrary to faity, contrary to mercy, contrary to humaneness, and contrary to religion. And therefore he needs a spririt disposed to follow wherever the winds of fortune and the variability of affairs leads him. A prince must take great care never to let anything come from his mouth that is not full of the above-mentioned five qualities, and he must appear to all who see and hear him to be completely pious, completely faithful, completely honest, completely humane, and completely religious. And nothing is more important than to appear to have that last quality. Men judge more by their eyes than by their hands, because everyone can see but few can feel. Everyone can see how you appear, few can feel what you are, and these few will not dare to oppose the opinion of the multitude when it is defended by the majesty of the state. In actions of all men, especially princes, where there is no recourse to justice, the end is all that counts. A prince should only be concerned with conquering or maintaining a state, for the means will always be judged to be honorable and praiseworthy by each and every person, because the masses always follow appearances and the outcomes of affairs, and the world is nothing other than the masses. The few do not find a place wherever the masses are supported.
Machiavelli clearly states that, "a Prince's profession should be that of war". He also says that, "a Prince must devote his time to military exercises." A Prince can attain this in two ways, through action and through study. Machiavelli says that one can study by keeping his troops well disciplined and fit. He can act by learning the topography of the land. It is also important to carry on continual deliberation. When a price studies, he can learn from history and he can examine the causes of victories and defeats of other princes.
While Machiavelli says that a Prince's focus should be mostly of war, he also focuses on his relationship with the people and the nobles. A Prince must keep his people content with the way in which he rules. If he does not do this, the people of the state may try to overthrowthe prince. Machiavelli states, "I will conclude by saying that the good will of the people is vital to a prince; otherwise he will be helpless in times of adversity".
Machiavelli soon thereafter begins to elaborate on how his model princes should go about his strategies. War and armies, which is a common topic throughout Machiavelli's book, addresses strategies for a prince to take concerning his soldiers. Niccolo Machiavelli warns that a prince should avoid two certain types of soldiers when it comes to war.
First, Machiavelli advises about mercenary soldiers. Mercenary soldiers are paid to fight battles for whomever they are employed. Machiavelli calls them, "lazy and unreliable". He says this because they are paid, and therefore they would not have any loyalty to a certain state. They are considered "unreliable" because mercenaries could just as easily be paid by a different country or state to betray you and thus destroy your princedom.
The second type of soldier Machiavelli warns his readers about is an Auxiliary soldier. Auxiliary soldiers are "borrowed" from another country to fight for or with you. Machiavelli says that auxiliary soldiers are even more dangerous than mercenary soldiers because since their loyalty is to another country, they in turn, could defeat your princedom. You would then be under their control, and you would lose your throne.
Machiavelli wraps up this discussion by saying that it is better to lose a battle with your own army, than to win with auxiliary or mercenary armies. Quickly gaining respect is another strategy for a prince, which Machiavelli highlights. A prince can accomplish this by inflicting injuries upon himself. Machiavelli says that he must do all of these things (the injuries) at once and to do them early in his career. He is also convinced that another way to gain respect is through keeping his word. If a Prince is loyal to his word, the people will esteem him. They will not try to contradict what he has to say.
Mercy and cruelty pair up as behavior traits for a prince while ruling from his throne. Machiavelli states that a prince is to be wisely merciful. He says that if a prince is too merciful there will be a huge outbreak of chaos within the state. However, a prince should also be wisely cruel. Once again, if a prince is too cruel, there will be violence and lawlessness in the state. "A prince, therefore, must be indifferent to the charge of cruelty if he is to keep his subjects loyal and united. Having set an example once or twice, he may thereafter act far more mercifully than the princes who, through excessive kindness, allow disorders to arise from which murder and rapine ensue" .Machiavelli's point is that a prince should be wise about how much cruelty and mercy he shows toward his people.
Soumita Adhikary
Pg2
According to Machiavelli there are four main attributes that a prince should possess: intelligence, strength, determination, and tenaciousness. A prince must have the smarts to determine right from wrong. In times of trouble, he must know which path to take next. Strength ; a prince must be physically, and emotionally strong to face whatever comes at him. A prince's determination is very crucial in times of hardship. A prince must be willing to push on through the most difficult of times. He also must encourage his people and believe for himself that the struggle will soon be over.
A prince should understood that there are two types of fighting: one with laws and the other with force. The first is most suitable for men, the second is most suitable for beasts, but it often happens that the first is not enough, which requires that we have recourse to the second. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince to know how to act both as a man and as a beast. This was signified allegorically to princes by the ancient writers: they wrote that Achilles and many other ancient princes were given to be raised and tutored by the centaur Chiron, who took custody of them and disciplined them. This can only mean, this trainer who was half beast and half man, that a prince needs to know how to use either one or the other nature, and the one without the other will never last.
Since it is necessary for the prince to use the ways of beasts, he should imitate the fox and the lion, because the lion cannot defend himself from snares and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Therefore, it is important to be a fox in order to understand the snares and a lion in order to terrify the wolves. Those who choose only to be a lion do not really understand. Therefore, a prudent leader will not and should not observe his promises, when such observance will work against him and when the reasons for making the promise are no longer valid. If all men were good, this precept would not be good; but since men are evil and will not keep their word with you, you shouldn't keep yours to them. Never has a prince lacked legitimate reasons to break faith. This can be shown by an infinite number of examples from modern times, numerous peace treaties and promises that have been broken and made completely empty by the faithlessness of princes: these knew well how to use the ways of the fox, and they are the ones who succeed. But it is necessary to know how to hide this nature and to simulate a good character and to dissimulate: for the majority of men are simple and will only follow the needs of the present, so that the deceiver can always find someone he can deceive. Alexander VI (1) never did or thought about anything else except deceiving people and always found some reason or other to do it. There was never a man who was better at making assurances, or more eager to offer solemn promises, or who kept them less; yet he always succeeded in his deceptions beyond his wildest dreams, because he played his role in the world so well.
Therefore, a prince doesn't need to have all the qualities mentioned earlier, but it is necessary that he appear to have them.
Also having good qualities and always practicing them is harmful, while appearing to practice them is useful. It's good to appear to be pious, faithful, humane, honest, and religious, and it's good to be all those things; but as long as one keeps in mind that when the need arises you can and will change into the opposite. It needs to be understood that a prince, and especially a prince recently installed, cannot observe all those qualities which make men good, and it is often necessary in order to preserve the state to act contrary to faity, contrary to mercy, contrary to humaneness, and contrary to religion. And therefore he needs a spririt disposed to follow wherever the winds of fortune and the variability of affairs leads him. A prince must take great care never to let anything come from his mouth that is not full of the above-mentioned five qualities, and he must appear to all who see and hear him to be completely pious, completely faithful, completely honest, completely humane, and completely religious. And nothing is more important than to appear to have that last quality. Men judge more by their eyes than by their hands, because everyone can see but few can feel. Everyone can see how you appear, few can feel what you are, and these few will not dare to oppose the opinion of the multitude when it is defended by the majesty of the state. In actions of all men, especially princes, where there is no recourse to justice, the end is all that counts. A prince should only be concerned with conquering or maintaining a state, for the means will always be judged to be honorable and praiseworthy by each and every person, because the masses always follow appearances and the outcomes of affairs, and the world is nothing other than the masses. The few do not find a place wherever the masses are supported.
Machiavelli clearly states that, "a Prince's profession should be that of war". He also says that, "a Prince must devote his time to military exercises." A Prince can attain this in two ways, through action and through study. Machiavelli says that one can study by keeping his troops well disciplined and fit. He can act by learning the topography of the land. It is also important to carry on continual deliberation. When a price studies, he can learn from history and he can examine the causes of victories and defeats of other princes.
While Machiavelli says that a Prince's focus should be mostly of war, he also focuses on his relationship with the people and the nobles. A Prince must keep his people content with the way in which he rules. If he does not do this, the people of the state may try to overthrowthe prince. Machiavelli states, "I will conclude by saying that the good will of the people is vital to a prince; otherwise he will be helpless in times of adversity".
Machiavelli soon thereafter begins to elaborate on how his model princes should go about his strategies. War and armies, which is a common topic throughout Machiavelli's book, addresses strategies for a prince to take concerning his soldiers. Niccolo Machiavelli warns that a prince should avoid two certain types of soldiers when it comes to war.
First, Machiavelli advises about mercenary soldiers. Mercenary soldiers are paid to fight battles for whomever they are employed. Machiavelli calls them, "lazy and unreliable". He says this because they are paid, and therefore they would not have any loyalty to a certain state. They are considered "unreliable" because mercenaries could just as easily be paid by a different country or state to betray you and thus destroy your princedom.
The second type of soldier Machiavelli warns his readers about is an Auxiliary soldier. Auxiliary soldiers are "borrowed" from another country to fight for or with you. Machiavelli says that auxiliary soldiers are even more dangerous than mercenary soldiers because since their loyalty is to another country, they in turn, could defeat your princedom. You would then be under their control, and you would lose your throne.
Machiavelli wraps up this discussion by saying that it is better to lose a battle with your own army, than to win with auxiliary or mercenary armies. Quickly gaining respect is another strategy for a prince, which Machiavelli highlights. A prince can accomplish this by inflicting injuries upon himself. Machiavelli says that he must do all of these things (the injuries) at once and to do them early in his career. He is also convinced that another way to gain respect is through keeping his word. If a Prince is loyal to his word, the people will esteem him. They will not try to contradict what he has to say.
Mercy and cruelty pair up as behavior traits for a prince while ruling from his throne. Machiavelli states that a prince is to be wisely merciful. He says that if a prince is too merciful there will be a huge outbreak of chaos within the state. However, a prince should also be wisely cruel. Once again, if a prince is too cruel, there will be violence and lawlessness in the state. "A prince, therefore, must be indifferent to the charge of cruelty if he is to keep his subjects loyal and united. Having set an example once or twice, he may thereafter act far more mercifully than the princes who, through excessive kindness, allow disorders to arise from which murder and rapine ensue" .Machiavelli's point is that a prince should be wise about how much cruelty and mercy he shows toward his people.
Soumita Adhikary
Pg2
Interesting article ... Sharing with you an Interview with Niccolo Machiavelli (imaginary) http://stenote.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-interview-with-niccolo.html
ReplyDeleteGood article... May I share an Interview with Niccolo Machiavelli (imaginary) http://stenote.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-interview-with-niccolo.html
ReplyDelete