Summary:
Outlines 14 key facts in Machiavelli's essay, The Prince.
- Machiavelli's intention was to discuss in plain language the conduct of great men and the principles of a princely government
- The Prince was written in hope of pleasing and enlightening the Medici family
- Machiavelli lists four types of principalities: hereditary, mixed, new, and ecclesiastical. Hereditary is inherited by the ruler, and mixed is territories that are annexed to the rulers existing territories. New principalities on the other hand may be acquired by several methods: one's own power, by power of others, by criminal acts, or by the will of the people. Ecclesiastical principalities are those in which involving the Papal States.
- A leader of a mixed principle must keep in mind two things if he wishes to retain control; one is the blood of their rulers must be extinct and to make no alteration wither in their laws or taxes.
- Fortune is the given chance to rise to power, fortune also determines if you are going to stay in power for fortune determines half of human affairs.
- It is important that the leader has the support of the people, because only through the support of the people can a leader find himself ruling with a very few not willing to follow his orders.
- The two most essential foundations for any state are good laws and good armies.
- Mercenary troops are hired soldiers. The only problem is they are dangerous and extremely unreliable, for they are not country are for honor, but for profit.
- There are auxiliaries, native, and mixed troops; the most desirable of these troops being native.
They are more reliable because they are ones own citizens that are usually for a cause of some sort to defend their way of life, this giving them some incentive to fight for. They being your own troops are the most trustworthy and loyal to you obviously than a hired soldier.
- It is better to be feared, because people will break ties of love if is to their advantage, but the fear of punishment will never transgress.
- A few qualities a prince must have are: strong rather than stingy, cruel rather than merciful, avoid being hated or despised, the will to undertake great projects, and the intelligence to surround himself with great men. These qualities make a prince balanced not to overpowering and not a pushover to rule.
- Machiavelli writes that they should be armed, because these arms become your own. For if you disarm them it shows distrust and offends them. But, arming them makes them feel wanted and become faithful to you.
- Rulers must never remain neutral. If your neighbors fight you must fight as well,
because if you do not than the winner will threaten you and the loser will not be an ally.
14. Machiavelli puts great emphasis on a prince's ministers, because a rulers shows his intelligence in his choice of the men around him. If a prince is not smart enough to have his own ideas, he must be able to distinguish his minister's good ideas from the bad ones
This is the complete article, containing 492 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
