by Yosef Shapiro

Created on: July 25, 2008

Machiavelli intended his masterwork, "The Prince", to be an indispensible and practical guide on how to rule. From the very beginning of his work, it is evident that he intends this work not to be used for theoretical or abstract analyses on how to rule. He intends that his audience, the ruling class of his day, to actually utilize the concepts contained within his book. He not so subtly dedicated the work to Lorenzo de Medici. He was the ruler of Florence and a patron of Machiavelli's.

Machiavelli had the opportunity to observe firsthand various leaders of his day. He knew Pope Alexander VI, King Louis XII, Girolamo Salvanorola, and Cesare Borgia. Cesare was the leader that most shaped Machiavelli's views of how a ruler should operate. Borgia was regarded by most as cruel, cunning, and vicious. Machiavelli believed that all of these traits were needed and necessary in a ruler.

In exploring the proper and needed actions of a ruler, Machiavelli separates the concepts of ethics and politics. Machiavelli's argument was that actions must be considered in light of their practical consequences. Lofty ideas are good in theory. But, may not be a luxury that an effective ruler can afford to have. In popular conception this idea has been expressed as "the ends justify the means" In fact this sort of thinking is described as Machiavellian.

Here is a summary of some of the main ideas that are discussed in the book:

Statesmanship and War craft:

Any successful country must have sound laws and an effective military.
Goodwill and Hatred

An effective leader must avoid the hatred of the people. He does not have to be loved. Indeed, it may be better for him to be feared. It is critical to maintain the goodwill of the people that you rule. The goodwill is necessary so that the country stays stable thereby insuring the continuation of the reign of the ruler.
Free Will

Machiavelli examines the role of fate and the ways a ruler can protect himself from the uncertainties of the future.
Virtue

Machiavelli examines traits such as: generosity, compassion, and piety. A ruler must appear to be pious. But, virtues can be set aside for the greater good of the country.

Avoid Flatters

A ruler should surround himself with advisors that he can trust. Advisers that are merely trying to tell the ruler what he wants to hear are useless.

A number of famous or infamous leaders were clearly influenced by this work. Some notables include: Fredrick the Great of Prussia, Napoleon I of France, and Benito Mussolini.

Sources :

Wikipedia.org
Spark Notes

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