The Prince
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Summary
Why did Niccolo Machiavelli write the prince?
He wrote it like a guide. The Prince is an analysis of how to acquire and keep political power. Philosophers wrote it as how it should be, but Machiavelli presented it as it is.
The Prince begins by addressing to Lorenzo de Medici, where Machiavelli tells him that he is seeking favor with the prince by offering him some of his knowledge. Machiavelli proceeds to classify the kinds of states: hereditary princedoms, republics, mixed principalities and brand-new princedoms. His main focus would be in new states because those are the hardest to deal with. A conquered state whose original prince was its sole ruler is difficult to conquer, but easy to maintain; a conquered state in which the prince shared power with the barons is easy to conquer, but difficult to maintain.
It is better for a prince to be loved or feared?
Whether it is better to be loved than feared or the other way around. Of course the answer to this question is its better to be both loved and feared. These too are rarely ever together so anyone who had to choose will feel more secured in being feared than with being loved. Love is a bond where men, being the way that they are could simply break it if it gives them an advantage to do so. Fear on the other hand is different. Fear has pain and dread and that would always stay present for anyone.
When possible, a prince should make his rise to power on his own worth and with his own arms. By relying on good luck, or other people’s arms may make the rise to your power easier, but the real difficult task will be to hold on to his recently earned Power. Machiavelli has an entire chapter committed to Cesare Borgia, he gained power largely through his connections and his father’s help, but was smart enough to carve out his own position as a ruler– although he ends up with no success in the end. Princes who rise to power through crime are are completely different.
Summary
Why did Niccolo Machiavelli write the prince?
He wrote it like a guide. The Prince is an analysis of how to acquire and keep political power. Philosophers wrote it as how it should be, but Machiavelli presented it as it is.
The Prince begins by addressing to Lorenzo de Medici, where Machiavelli tells him that he is seeking favor with the prince by offering him some of his knowledge. Machiavelli proceeds to classify the kinds of states: hereditary princedoms, republics, mixed principalities and brand-new princedoms. His main focus would be in new states because those are the hardest to deal with. A conquered state whose original prince was its sole ruler is difficult to conquer, but easy to maintain; a conquered state in which the prince shared power with the barons is easy to conquer, but difficult to maintain.
It is better for a prince to be loved or feared?
Whether it is better to be loved than feared or the other way around. Of course the answer to this question is its better to be both loved and feared. These too are rarely ever together so anyone who had to choose will feel more secured in being feared than with being loved. Love is a bond where men, being the way that they are could simply break it if it gives them an advantage to do so. Fear on the other hand is different. Fear has pain and dread and that would always stay present for anyone.
When possible, a prince should make his rise to power on his own worth and with his own arms. By relying on good luck, or other people’s arms may make the rise to your power easier, but the real difficult task will be to hold on to his recently earned Power. Machiavelli has an entire chapter committed to Cesare Borgia, he gained power largely through his connections and his father’s help, but was smart enough to carve out his own position as a ruler– although he ends up with no success in the end. Princes who rise to power through crime are are completely different.