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Machiavelli The Prince Summary Chapter 7

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Machiavelli The Prince Summary Chapter 7
Machiavelli Machiavelli wrote a novel titled The Prince, in which he gave advice to princes of that time and of princes to come on how to be a successful ruler. Machiavelli introduces human nature and how a Prince’s actions can frame his success if Machiavelli’s advice was followed. He believed it is better to be a feared prince, rather than a loved one. These actions would lead to great success if the Prince instills fear, but not hatred. A prince must be viewed by his people as virtuous for them to accept his reign of power and abide by his kinship. Morality is absent in most kings, it is about manipulating your subjects to believe that you are the virtuous and loving prince that a prince knows he is not. Every prince should desire to be feared by his people rather than loved. Fear is instilled into their people so they know they will face dire consequences if their actions do not follow the prince’s wishes. Love can quiver …show more content…
Machiavelli stresses this in chapter 19 of The Prince. Accomplishing being feared but not hated, gives a Prince two instrumental items to his success. First, not to be hated or despised by the body of his subjects, is one of the surest safeguards that a Prince can have against conspiracy,” as Machiavelli stated. Furthermore, it gains you good allies for when external foreign powers threaten a Princes state. The best example given of this ideal prince in The Prince was Severus. “He understood to play the part of both the lion and of the fox, each of which natures, as I have observed before, a Prince should know how to assume.” Severus’ character set him apart from all of the other Princes of that era. He was successful because he was so admirable to the people and to the soldiers. His strength of character allowed him to reign on prosperously and create a stable foundation of government that should be mimicked by every leader from then until the end of

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