Machiavelli's Views for:

A detailed Summary of Machiavelli's Views for:

Niccolo Machiavelli, a diplomat in the day of the Republic of Florence, wrote "The Qualities of the Prince" in 1513 after the overthrow of the Republic forced him into exile. In this essay Machiavelli is not presenting his story from a malicious viewpoint but from his beliefs regarding the true nature of an effective and powerful leader. He has been criticized for advocating harsh, immoral methods of obtaining power and in ruling. Machiavelli portrays the successful actions that must be taken for the betterment of Italy's unstable political condition. He strongly argues that morality was not a necessary trait for a ruling prince but that in fact it stood in the way for a prince to be effective and powerful. Napoleon Bonepart, an effective and powerful leader, rose to fame on such qualities as those Machiavelli believed were important for a prince to have to maintain leadership of his country. Although Machiavelli distrusted the citizens, he never advocated that a prince should mistreat them. Napoleon Bonaparte's qualities coincided with Machiavelli's true qualities of an effective and powerful leader. This leader was required always being prepared for war, not worrying about being called a miser, and being feared.

Also, Machiavelli says, a prince should not rob his subjects with excessive taxation in order to protect his territory. Machiavelli insists, "Not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious" (42). A prince will have to be miserly. Machiavelli goes on to argue, "For this is one of those vices that permit him to rule" (42). Therefore, reassuring a prince against being troubled when called a miser, Machiavelli declares,"[F]or with time he will come to be considered more generous once it is evident that, as a result of his parsimony, his income is sufficient, he can defend himself from anyone who makes war against him" (42). Napoleon brought many modern items to France by leavening small taxes such as a tax on wine. He maintained his army in a high readiness for war but also rewarded the French citizens by his influence on the arts and also he brought modern gas lighting to France. He states, "Men are more easily governed through their vices than virtues" (Pinkey 54).

ity a prince should possess, according to Machiavelli, so he can remain in power is being always be prepared for war. For instance, he believed that the study of war should be the sole objective of those who ruled. Machiavelli put so much stock in always being prepared for war that he insisted a prince should not have any other endeavor or contemplation, nor select anything else for his profession, except war and its rules and regulations (38). First, Due to always being armed, Napoleon crowned himself King of the French nation and created an empire that covered most western and central Europe. Many Writers and military leaders Napoleon was the greatest military genius of his time. Napoleon's armies crushed on

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Approximate Word count = 1165
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History