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Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince This paper aims to discuss the views of Niccolo Machiavelli on the proper way for a ruler to successfully rule his people. Machiavelli on Human nature discusses the views of Machiavelli on the true Human nature based on his observations; that the people admires moralistic characteristics, and will follow a ruler as long as they receive benefits. Machiavelli on Virtu and Fortuna discusses that a way to be a successful ruler is to use a variety of skills that is needed for every situation, and that the art of deception is needed so that the ruler would only show desirable traits that people will admire and be the cause for them to follow a leader. Machiavelli on the lion and the fox discusses that a ruler should also adapt the qualities of certain animals that will help the ruler in learning about conspiracies against his rule and prevent the conspiracy against him. Machiavelli on the leader being loved, feared, and/or hated discusses that a ruler should be loved and feared but if a ruler cannot be both he should focus on being feared for the people will obey him through fears. This paper also aims to briefly discuss my views about the prince and on the topics stated.

Machiavelli on Human Nature 1

Machiavelli points out that a view on the human nature is practical to be able to

rule rather than simple knowing what is the moral thing to do. Human nature isn’t really moral as people do what they need to do to survive which can end a prince’s rule. A 1

Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy on Machiavelli http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/machiavelli/

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prince has to learn the human nature to be able to do what is needed to maintain his rule whether it is moral or immoral. Analysis of Machiavelli on Human Nature 2

Machiavelli believes that in general, most people have a primary interest in

themselves; they basically carry the mind-set of “what’s in it for me.” People are easily pulled to a ruler that gives them something that can benefit them. I relate a country as a ruler; people are drawn to that country as it gives them benefit. People would allow themselves to be ruled as long as there’s a benefit. Most peopl e are mainly concerned with their property and honor . A man’s property is like a man’s life, take that away and he would use that as a reason to rebel against a ruler. People are often remain content and uncomplaining unless something horrible happens to them. People can be content to a ruler as long as they aren’t bothered by anything, may it be problems, such as food, and shelter. People can be trusted during the times of prosperity but are almost always dishonest during the time of distress. When man is in a pinch he can no longer be trusted as he can do things that does not favour the person he used to favour. People admire and praise qualities such as integrity, mercy, honesty, humaneness, religiousness, and generosity in other people, but they do not have these qualities in themselves. 3Most people are passive; they accept the opinion of the many, they also only cares about what they see rather that what they need to see. People can become very loyal to another by the benefits they receive, but their loyalty can be bought by another. People can have their feelings towards another changed; they turn to someone

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Machiavelli’s Analysis on Human Nature http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/machiavelli.htm Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince translated by W.K. Marriott (1515), 79-80

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they favour when times demands them to do so. Friendships can be obtained through money, but this type of friendship cannot be absolute because others can buy their friendships as well and might turn against someone in the future. Machiavelli’s analysis on human nature shows that man will do anything to keep him away from problems; man will do everything that benefits him which can lead to an end to the prince’s rule. Man is rather immora l even though he knows the difference of good and evil. Like Machiavelli I also believe that an effective ruler should learn about the human nature so that he can make his rule long lasting and prosperous which can benefit both the ruler and his people. Power, Virtue, and Fortune 4

Machiavelli on power, for Machiavelli it is meaningless and futile to speak of any

claim to authority and the right to command which is detached from the possession of superior political power. The ruler who lives by his right alone will surely wither and die by those same rights. Because political conflict of those who prefer power to authority are more likely to succeed; without exception the authority of states and their laws will never be acknowledge when they are not supported by a show of power which renders obedience inescapable. Machiavelli’s concept on power is right; a person that is given authority but does not exercise his power will end up losing his position as a ruler. For power is needed to show authority. Authority is given for the exercise of the power of enforcement; power is the actual wielding of the authority. 4


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Machiavelli on virtue, Virtu which can be described as skill, prowess, wisdom,

strength, cunning, good decision making, and using one’ s free will, The Italian word Virtu would normally be translated into English as “virtue,” and would ordinarily convey the definition of moral goodness, but Machiavelli obviously means something very different as he refers that Virtu should be something like a prince different personal qualities that the prince can use to adapt in situations. Machiavelli expects that a prince should have a high Virtu as to be to adapt to certain situations; like in the time where a prince should be as evil as to hide his true intent where deception is needed for his political rule. 6 An example of adaptation for a prince rule is the Conquest by criminal virtue. Where a prince secures his power through cruel, immoral deeds, such as the execution of political rivals, Machiavelli advises that a prince should carefully know what the consequences of his deeds and how many times he should do what he just did. A prince should know how limit the use of evil deeds so that his subjects will slowly forget his evil deeds and his reputation will recover. Princes who fail to be cruel, or are even afraid to be cruel will soon find out that problems will arise to his rule and will be forced to do something more cruel throughout his rule, where his subjects will begin to be part of the problem as he will be hated for his cruel deeds. Machiavelli on Virtu explains that a prince should have different qualities that can be used to adapt in many situations so that his rule will continue on. These obstacles should be handled swiftly without fear on whether his methods rely on appeasement or through cruelty. I think that in a rule a prince should do his best in everything he do he should be able to adapt with situations, on cruelty I believe that there has been no rule 5 6

Virtu and Fortuna http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/machiavelli.htm Summary of The Prince on Virtu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prince

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in history that has been successful through kindness by a prince. Doing something cruelty should be done so that his political power will continue but a prince should know that it is something that is really needed to be for the prosperity of his kingdom and its people. Like Machiavelli I think that cruel deeds can be used for securing the political power of the prince but should be done only a few times or even once. It’s better to do it once rather than many times where the people will begin to hate. Cruel deeds can be erase throughout the rule as long as the prince does not continue to do the deeds and will cloud them with deeds that is good in the eyes of his people. 7

Machiavelli on Fortune, Fortuna which refers to chance, luck, random variations,

probability, and external f actors outside of one’s control. 8Fortuna is the enemy of the political order, the ultimate threat to the safety and security of the state. Fortuna is the power of nature that happens through random variations. It is something that one cannot foresee which can end up leading to problems within a Princes rule.

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On the

Prince, chapter 25 Machiavelli states two analogies for understanding situations that will be of help in the face of certain natural events. One is the destructive rivers which can make the land to lakes, takes down tress and buildings, and makes the people flee from its force. But during that time people with Virtu learns through the passage of time. They in return makes dams, and passages where water goes so that their lands will not be flooded and their buildings safe.

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As Machiavelli stated that Fortuna is the blind

strength from nature, it can be tamed with a knowledge about the variations that has happened already. A person with Virtu and wisdom will learn and have already prepared 7

Analysis on Fortuna http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/machiavelli.htm Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy on Machiavelli http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/machiavelli/ 9 Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince translated by W.K. Marriott (1515), 120 10 Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince translated by W.K. Marriott (1515), 120 8


for the arrival of the Fortuna.

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Fortuna demands a violent response to those who would

want to control her. In Machiavelli’s time he compares Fortuna to a Woman, therefore “like a woman, she is the friend of young men, because they are less cautious, and more spir ited”. Machiavelli states that Fortuna can only be controlled by Princes who are less cautious but bolder willing to face whatever may be in his path and in return he will learn to get pass the dangers of his rule. Machiavelli on Fortuna states that a Prince should have the factor Virtu in order to pass the Fortuna which is the external factors outside one’s control, with the skills given by Virtu a prince learns something through everything that has happened in his rule. These things can give him an edge over the next Fortuna that may block his way. Machiavelli also states that a person should be bold instead of cautious so that he then can learn through experience where he would be able to adapt in the future. In Fortuna I agree with the statements of Machiavelli. In order for a person’s political rule to continue he should always adapt to the things that is happening where Virtu is needed. Virtu will give the Prince an edge against blind streaks that he cannot see. It is like Ma chiavelli’s analogy about women, a man will not be able to understand a woman if he is too cautious and in the end what he want to happen will not occur because of too much caution. The Lion and the Fox

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Machiavelli on the lion and the fox

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Based on historical experience Princes

demonstrated that they achieve the most success when they are crafty, cunning, and able to trick others.

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In becoming successful a Prince should learn about other people

and learn about their ways that leads to success, but a Prince should also learn from certain animals; like the Lion and the Fox. The ways of the lion, its strength, and ferocity with the ways of the fox, cunning, slyness, understanding, evading its enemies; this means that every great prince must be wise first to get and then to keep his power firmly or even give him more power than he already has. It also means that a great prince must be able of well-balanced power management when equally combining both: politics, diplomacy, economics, religion and police, military and intelligence.

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The Fox is

used as a symbol for wisdom and cunning. As a fox is able to recognize traps, a Prince should learn the characteristic of the fox. Like the fox a Prince should be able to recognize traps laid by his foes to overthrow him. However, since a fox cannot drive away foes, it is not enough for a prince just to have the characteristics of the fox; he should also be like a lion. The counterpart to the fox, a lion is a symbol for courage and ferocity. As a lion is able to drive away most of its foes, a Prince must be able to stand up against his enemies. However, since lions aren’t able to recognize traps, therefore, a prince must also be like the fox both wise, and cunning. Machiavelli on the Lion and the Fox explains that a Prince should have the qualities of the Lion which is all about strength and the fox which is all about being wise,

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In What Way Princes Should Keep Their Word http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/section8.rhtml Analysis on Lion and Fox http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/machiavelli.htm 14 Chapter XVIII http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince18.htm 13


and cunning.

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When combined together Machiavelli implies the idea that the ruler must

make others believe him to be strong to deter enemies, yet employ the constant use of hidden agendas and trickery to stay one step ahead of any opposition. As I stated there has been no ruler that is all kind, I believe that a ruler should be ready to use methods that may be labelled to be cruel; I also believe in the statement of Machiavelli that it’ s better to do one greater evil than those to be said as small evil but is to be made throughout the reign which in return create loss of trust, and be hated by the people. Should a Leader be Loved, Feared, and/ or Hated? 16

A prince should choose to be both loved, and feared, but not to be hated by the

people. But if a prince cannot be both, a prince should choose to be feared. According to Machiavelli “Men love according to their own will, and fear according to the will of t he prince”. On love; love is a link between men, especially those men who are mean; such as scoundrels/dishonest men, when things are not going well for them their attitude changes to being good towards the person who seemed to be advantageous for them. On fear; fear is preserved by something, such as the dread of punishment.

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Machiavelli

states that it is better to be feared than loved if one cannot be both. A prince shouldn’t be forgiving, setting a standard of mercilessness is eventually better, because it prevents disorders that may occur, many die in disorders thus being merciless is better than to be forgiving where men will continue to do things that may cause problems for a prince.

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Machiavelli states one prince, Hannibal whom commanded an enormous army,

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince translated by W.K. Marriott (1515), 84 Should a Leader be Loved, Feared, or Hated http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/machiavelli.htm 17 A Niccolo Machiavelli Essay http://www.customessaymeister.com/customessays/Book%20Reports/20231.htm 18 Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince translated by W.K. Marriott (1515), 81 16


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composed of many various races of men, no disorders occurred among the men or against their prince, this was caused by Hannibal’s inhuman cruelty that lead fear to his men that kept them under his command.

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Hatred is the very cause of the crumbling of

political reign; dislike to one’s prince because of things the prince has done.

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A prince

will be hated if he takes the property of his subjects, being greedy, appearing to lack in character/Virtu, and carelessly showing evilness/evil deeds. Hatred brings the people to rebel against the prince, hatred is caused by the unhappiness of the people, the people will do everything to destroy this unhappiness they are experiencing.it gives favour to the enemies of the prince, which they will use to be able to rise a conspiracy to usurp his throne. Machiavelli states that it’s better to be feared if a prince cannot be both. Being feared means that the people will follow the prince; fear tames the people to be like animals following their master, and avoiding hatred at all cause because it leads to despair and a rebellion, but I don’t think that a prince should focus only on how people should fear him if they cannot love him. ”Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate to suffering” this quote from star wars says it all. It’s dangerous to just use fear to make the people comply with the rulers command as fear could have been caused by his evil deeds; I do accept that it is better to do greater evil than small evil that is continuous, but the prince should keep the balance between love and fear because if the people loves their leader and fears then at the same time they are followed with the heart of their people, it will be easier for the people to forgive a prince if he is love which will help to his goal of a long reign. Conclusion: 19 20

Hatred http://umn.academia.edu/DonArbi/Papers/312025/Fear_Love_Hatred-_Niccolo_Machiavelli Summary Chapter XIX http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/section8.rhtml


Machiavelli’s the prince is about reality, it’s about the real things that are usually happening in a political rule. Rulers should learn to wear a mask, hiding their true appearances to the people. In truth people care about moral characteristics, which princes should have, so that the people may be able to feel that the person is an ideal prince. If a prince cannot have the admirable moral qualities, the prince should make it look like that he has the qualities. The prince should also have Virtu or the set of qualities that let a prince adapt to situations. Such situation such as fortune which comes to a prince without warning, fortune may be of help to a prince or may be a disaster, with Virtu a prince will be able to adapt in the situation given by fortune which in return, give him a reputation worthy of the peoples trust, and loyalty. The prince should also adapt the qualities of certain animals. The lion and the fox, the lion’s characteristics such as its great strength and ferocity which gives the lion the ability to trample his foes, and the cunning and wisdom of the fox, which helps the fox to recognize which are traps, and evade them, with the combined characteristics of the lion and the fox, a prince may be able to use tricks and gain the upper hand against his enemies. A prince should also be both loved and feared. I deter Machiavelli’s thinking that if a prince cannot be loved and feared at the same time he should only care about being feared, for me I would allow the use of cruelty in a rule because it generates fear to the people which gives a ruler better command, it is also better to do a greater evil than small evil that is repeated, which the people would continue to remember and may be the cause of a shorter reign. Greater evil would create hatred but since a greater evil is done only once it would fade through the passage of time unlike repeated evil which would also create hatred, the hatred of the people would be very long that may indeed

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be used by for conspiracies. As a stated that it is better to always be both feared and loved, because there isn’t a successful prince that did not do evil deeds, and with being loved and feared at the same time the great evil deed may successfully be erased to the minds of the people and give the ruler the a complete passage to the prince’s goal.

Bibliography:

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Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trans. W.K. Marriott. USA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2010

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Kapisyzi, Arb. “Hatred.” Comparison of the Roles of Fear, Love, and Hatred in The Prince and Discourses on Livy. October 12, 2010. Academia. September 12,

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“Chapter XVIII: Concerning The Way In Which Princes Should Keep Faith.” The Prince, Constitution Society. September 12, 2012

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Ohebsion, Rodney “Niccolo Machiavelli & The Prince.” A Collection of Wisdom, September 12,2012

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“Summary Chapter XVIII: In What Way Princes Should Keep Their Word” , The Prince, 2012. Sparknotes. September 12, 2012

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Nederman,

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Philosophy Term Paper

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