Machiavelli The Prince Research Paper
Machiavelli Essay
Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a political phenomena called The Prince to state how a leader should rule his country. He stressed the importance of retaining power by have the support of your people and stabilizing a government. To maintain the support of your people you must be both feared and loved by being cruel, but morally right. Niccolo claims that another balance must be struck between being stingy and liberal. Our republican form of government could use such ideas as Machiavelli states to fortify our country.
A Prince has to retain his power in order to stay relevant. The support of his people is a must. A stable government is just as important as the people's support. A government must be strong and to do that a prince …show more content…
must a forceful leader. It’s ok to be forceful but to deceit the people and to immortally dirty yours hands as a prince in front of your people is not the way. These actions will ruin the government and the retained power as a prince. It's impossible to be virtuous as a prince, so a prince should put on a so called facade. Show them what they want to see to have a stable government and retain power. Machiavelli said “A wise Prince… keeps his subjects united and loyal.” Machiavelli claims loyal people who support a Prince will make the prince able to retain power for longer and have a united country. “Princes have done great things who have values their promises little…” Machiavelli states who don't always follow through with their promise to do great things, if the people publicly see the prince promise something and they're loyal to him they’ll believe he fulfilled it. That's all part of the act, though people think the prince did some morally right, but behind closed doors it's different. Although when trying to retain power it's very important to keep the support and loyalty of the people.
Niccolo Machiavelli believes there should be a balance between being loved and feared as a Prince.
Fear can lead to hatred and loss of support by the people. Although being feared can get the people to respect a Prince and obey him. Love can lead to people being more likely to conspire against the prince. They'll be less likely to turn against a prince they fear than someone they love. Although being loved means people want to be around the Prince always and never avoid him as a leader. Easier to motivate people that want to listen to the prince. An example of a leader who is too feared is Kim Jong-il. “(Kim) held power for more than 17 years by imposing a climate of fear and a “military first” policy that favored the country’s armed forces.” (Dan Southerland, RFA Executive Editor) Kim had no love or respect from his people, he slowly starved his economically weak country and people for many years. It's impossible for a leader like him to strike fear into his people to create peace. In spite of the fact Kim Jong held power for seventeen years ,which you could make a case for him being feared helped him retain power. After he died, his son Kim Jong-un came to power. Kim “...executed or removed many senior officials that he had inherited from his father’s regime.” (Biography.com Editors) Another example of an overly feared leader who put military strength over his economy and people. A prince should never be like this, a balance must be found. Machiavelli stated “...every sensible Prince wishes to be considered merciful and not cruel.” A Prince and be feared without becoming cruel. It's easier to manipulate people who love you, but when feared, they'll respect a prince as well. “And if he does need to take anyone's life…there is proper justification and clear case.” Machiavelli claims cruelty is kinda a one time thing if it's necessary, laws justify the reason why the Prince is being cruel. People will not hate the prince for this but more likely to
respect.
A balance more important than being loved or feared is the happy medium of being stingy or liberal. Stinginess means being greedy and giving the people a reason to hate. However a stingy leader will not be any pushover and will ultimately always get respect. “The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.” (Proverbs 28:22-2) The Bible states that the stinginess will be the wealthiest man. Being a generous, liberal leader means being considerate and delegate to the people. Also making good with allies and being charitable. Nonetheless being a generous Prince means he’ll be taken advantage of by allies or even his own people. Being liberal can make the people hate the Prince for raising taxes and not being good with money. Finding the balance between both is crucial. Machiavelli said “ A Prince must be a fox to recognize traps and a lion to frighten the wolves.” As a leader to be able to have a defensive approach and an offensive approach is great. “...he must have a mind ready to turn any direction as fortunes wind.” Machiavelli claims being prepared for anything and everything as a leader is shrewd.
In conclusion a lot must be done to be a close to perfect leader in Machiavelli’s eyes. The balance of fear and love to the balance of stinginess and liberally all must be obtainable to really retain power. A Prince not only needs to prolong the support of his people, but needs a stabilized government that is not deceitful. “Nixon gave a speech in which he swore that his White House staff was not involved in the break-in.” (History.com) During the Watergate scandal a president not only lied to his people but paid “hush” money to others to keep his lies and dirty hands out of the public eye. If there is one thing I learned and a prince should learn it's to not to corruptly dishonor your people by lying straight to their faces. A Prince's power will immediately collapse when the people no longer trust him and see him immorally wrong.
Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a political phenomena called The Prince to state how a leader should rule his country. He stressed the importance of retaining power by have the support of your people and stabilizing a government. To maintain the support of your people you must be both feared and loved by being cruel, but morally right. Niccolo claims that another balance must be struck between being stingy and liberal. Our republican form of government could use such ideas as Machiavelli states to fortify our country.
A Prince has to retain his power in order to stay relevant. The support of his people is a must. A stable government is just as important as the people's support. A government must be strong and to do that a prince …show more content…
must a forceful leader. It’s ok to be forceful but to deceit the people and to immortally dirty yours hands as a prince in front of your people is not the way. These actions will ruin the government and the retained power as a prince. It's impossible to be virtuous as a prince, so a prince should put on a so called facade. Show them what they want to see to have a stable government and retain power. Machiavelli said “A wise Prince… keeps his subjects united and loyal.” Machiavelli claims loyal people who support a Prince will make the prince able to retain power for longer and have a united country. “Princes have done great things who have values their promises little…” Machiavelli states who don't always follow through with their promise to do great things, if the people publicly see the prince promise something and they're loyal to him they’ll believe he fulfilled it. That's all part of the act, though people think the prince did some morally right, but behind closed doors it's different. Although when trying to retain power it's very important to keep the support and loyalty of the people.
Niccolo Machiavelli believes there should be a balance between being loved and feared as a Prince.
Fear can lead to hatred and loss of support by the people. Although being feared can get the people to respect a Prince and obey him. Love can lead to people being more likely to conspire against the prince. They'll be less likely to turn against a prince they fear than someone they love. Although being loved means people want to be around the Prince always and never avoid him as a leader. Easier to motivate people that want to listen to the prince. An example of a leader who is too feared is Kim Jong-il. “(Kim) held power for more than 17 years by imposing a climate of fear and a “military first” policy that favored the country’s armed forces.” (Dan Southerland, RFA Executive Editor) Kim had no love or respect from his people, he slowly starved his economically weak country and people for many years. It's impossible for a leader like him to strike fear into his people to create peace. In spite of the fact Kim Jong held power for seventeen years ,which you could make a case for him being feared helped him retain power. After he died, his son Kim Jong-un came to power. Kim “...executed or removed many senior officials that he had inherited from his father’s regime.” (Biography.com Editors) Another example of an overly feared leader who put military strength over his economy and people. A prince should never be like this, a balance must be found. Machiavelli stated “...every sensible Prince wishes to be considered merciful and not cruel.” A Prince and be feared without becoming cruel. It's easier to manipulate people who love you, but when feared, they'll respect a prince as well. “And if he does need to take anyone's life…there is proper justification and clear case.” Machiavelli claims cruelty is kinda a one time thing if it's necessary, laws justify the reason why the Prince is being cruel. People will not hate the prince for this but more likely to
respect.
A balance more important than being loved or feared is the happy medium of being stingy or liberal. Stinginess means being greedy and giving the people a reason to hate. However a stingy leader will not be any pushover and will ultimately always get respect. “The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.” (Proverbs 28:22-2) The Bible states that the stinginess will be the wealthiest man. Being a generous, liberal leader means being considerate and delegate to the people. Also making good with allies and being charitable. Nonetheless being a generous Prince means he’ll be taken advantage of by allies or even his own people. Being liberal can make the people hate the Prince for raising taxes and not being good with money. Finding the balance between both is crucial. Machiavelli said “ A Prince must be a fox to recognize traps and a lion to frighten the wolves.” As a leader to be able to have a defensive approach and an offensive approach is great. “...he must have a mind ready to turn any direction as fortunes wind.” Machiavelli claims being prepared for anything and everything as a leader is shrewd.
In conclusion a lot must be done to be a close to perfect leader in Machiavelli’s eyes. The balance of fear and love to the balance of stinginess and liberally all must be obtainable to really retain power. A Prince not only needs to prolong the support of his people, but needs a stabilized government that is not deceitful. “Nixon gave a speech in which he swore that his White House staff was not involved in the break-in.” (History.com) During the Watergate scandal a president not only lied to his people but paid “hush” money to others to keep his lies and dirty hands out of the public eye. If there is one thing I learned and a prince should learn it's to not to corruptly dishonor your people by lying straight to their faces. A Prince's power will immediately collapse when the people no longer trust him and see him immorally wrong.