Book finished: The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
Printed version published 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. 1908 Translation by W. K. Marriott
1/5/2017
After a lifetime of hearing references to "Machiavellian" politics, always in the pejorative, I thought it was about time I read some if his work to find out why he is seen so negatively. Just going by the references, my imagination had built up a mental picture of some fiendish plotter with a pointy beard and thin pointy moustache like some "unholy necromancer" or Spanish Inquisitor.
According to Wikipedia, Niccolò Machiavelli "...was an Italian Renaissance historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer. He has often been called the founder of modern political science. He was for many years a senior official in the Florentine Republic, with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, and poetry. His personal correspondence is renowned in the Italian language. He was secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512, when the Medici were out of power. He wrote his most renowned work The Prince (Il Principe) in 1513." The translator, in his Introduction says he was "...only moderately prosperous in his several embassies and political employments." but also that "...it is on the literary side of his character, and there alone, that we find no weakness and no failure." The Introduction is a valuable one, containing some background information on Machiavelli's life and works. In the file I downloaded there are also included two short Histories of contemporaries, which serve as examples of political behaviours. |
I can see why this work of Machiavelli's has been valued for the four hundred years since its creation. I found it breathtaking in its unflinching honesty about the methods of getting and holding power used by the men preceding and of his day.
Machiavelli is sometimes credited with being a forerunner of the Scientific Method, in that he was not interested in what might morally or theoretically be done, only in what actually is done. He studied historical figures and his contemporaries, and used their actions as examples of successful or unsuccessful policies. He didn't seem to have a singular philosphical or religious approach specifying an overarching guiding principle. He simply categorises situations a ruler may find himself in, and then considers what policies are successful or not, with some explanatory reasoning.
He writes "...it being my intention to write a thing which shall be useful to him who apprehends it, it appears to me more appropriate to follow up the real truth of the matter than the imagination of it; for many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.".
The book is full of meaty propositions, many well-known, which some have found too cynical or manipulative, but I found his explanations very persuasive. He seems determined to give the ruler a watertight case for actions which the squeamish may be hesitant to carry out. This frankness led to the banning of the book by the ever vigilant defenders of Truth & Faith, the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, many commentators are convinced the book is satirical. Wikipedia says: -
"Whether or not the word "satire" is the best choice, there is more general agreement that despite seeming to be written for someone wanting to be a monarch, and not the leader of a republic, The Prince can be read as deliberately emphasizing the benefits of free republics as opposed to monarchies.
Differences of opinion amongst commentators revolve around whether this sub-text was intended to be understood, let alone understood as deliberately satirical or comic." (Click for source at the Wikipedia page on this book.) Update 02/2024: - As per Wikipedia's modus operandi, it appears the text linked to has been heavily edited, lowering the emphasis on satire as an interpretation.
This is a bit of a worry, considering many historical figures, including Henry VIII, Napoleon, Mussolini and Stalin are known to have been familiar with the book.
A simple list of his Chapter headings will give an idea of the sorts of policies he examines: -
Machiavelli is sometimes credited with being a forerunner of the Scientific Method, in that he was not interested in what might morally or theoretically be done, only in what actually is done. He studied historical figures and his contemporaries, and used their actions as examples of successful or unsuccessful policies. He didn't seem to have a singular philosphical or religious approach specifying an overarching guiding principle. He simply categorises situations a ruler may find himself in, and then considers what policies are successful or not, with some explanatory reasoning.
He writes "...it being my intention to write a thing which shall be useful to him who apprehends it, it appears to me more appropriate to follow up the real truth of the matter than the imagination of it; for many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.".
The book is full of meaty propositions, many well-known, which some have found too cynical or manipulative, but I found his explanations very persuasive. He seems determined to give the ruler a watertight case for actions which the squeamish may be hesitant to carry out. This frankness led to the banning of the book by the ever vigilant defenders of Truth & Faith, the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, many commentators are convinced the book is satirical. Wikipedia says: -
"Whether or not the word "satire" is the best choice, there is more general agreement that despite seeming to be written for someone wanting to be a monarch, and not the leader of a republic, The Prince can be read as deliberately emphasizing the benefits of free republics as opposed to monarchies.
Differences of opinion amongst commentators revolve around whether this sub-text was intended to be understood, let alone understood as deliberately satirical or comic." (Click for source at the Wikipedia page on this book.) Update 02/2024: - As per Wikipedia's modus operandi, it appears the text linked to has been heavily edited, lowering the emphasis on satire as an interpretation.
This is a bit of a worry, considering many historical figures, including Henry VIII, Napoleon, Mussolini and Stalin are known to have been familiar with the book.
A simple list of his Chapter headings will give an idea of the sorts of policies he examines: -
CHAPTER I HOW MANY KINDS OF PRINCIPALITIES THERE ARE, AND BY WHAT MEANS THEY ARE ACQUIRED
CHAPTER II CONCERNING HEREDITARY PRINCIPALITIES
CHAPTER III CONCERNING MIXED PRINCIPALITIES
CHAPTER IV WHY THE KINGDOM OF DARIUS, CONQUERED BY ALEXANDER, DID NOT REBEL AGAINST THE SUCCESSORS OF ALEXANDER AT HIS DEATH
CHAPTER V CONCERNING THE WAY TO GOVERN CITIES OR PRINCIPALITIES WHICH LIVED UNDER THEIR OWN LAWS BEFORE THEY WERE ANNEXED
CHAPTER VI CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED BY ONE'S OWN ARMS AND ABILITY
CHAPTER VII CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED EITHER BY THE ARMS OF OTHERS OR BY GOOD FORTUNE
CHAPTER VIII CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED A PRINCIPALITY BY WICKEDNESS
CHAPTER IX CONCERNING A CIVIL PRINCIPALITY
CHAPTER X CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH THE STRENGTH OF ALL PRINCIPALITIES OUGHT TO BE MEASURED
CHAPTER XI CONCERNING ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPALITIES
CHAPTER XII HOW MANY KINDS OF SOLDIERY THERE ARE AND CONCERNING MERCENARIES
CHAPTER XIII CONCERNING AUXILIARIES, MIXED SOLDIERY, AND ONE'S OWN
CHAPTER XIV THAT WHICH CONCERNS A PRINCE ON THE SUBJECT OF WAR
CHAPTER XV CONCERNING THINGS FOR WHICH MEN, AND ESPECIALLY PRINCES, ARE PRAISED OR BLAMED
CHAPTER XVI CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS
CHAPTER XVII CONCERNING CRUELTY AND CLEMENCY, AND WHETHER IT IS BETTER TO BE LOVED THAN FEARED
CHAPTER XVIII CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH PRINCES SHOULD KEEP FAITH
CHAPTER XIX THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED
CHAPTER XX ARE FORTRESSES, AND MANY OTHER THINGS TO WHICH PRINCES OFTEN RESORT, ADVANTAGEOUS OR HURTFUL?
CHAPTER XXI HOW A PRINCE SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF SO AS TO GAIN RENOWN
CHAPTER XXII CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES
CHAPTER XXIII HOW FLATTERERS SHOULD BE AVOIDED
CHAPTER XXIV WHY THE PRINCES OF ITALY HAVE LOST THEIR STATES
CHAPTER XXV WHAT FORTUNE CAN EFFECT IN HUMAN AFFAIRS AND HOW TO WITHSTAND HER
CHAPTER XXVI AN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE BARBARIANS
DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS ADOPTED BY THE DUKE VALENTINO WHEN MURDERING VITELLOZZO VITELLI, OLIVEROTTO DA FERMO, THE SIGNOR PAGOLO, AND THE DUKE DI GRAVINA ORSINI
THE LIFE OF CASTRUCCIO CASTRACANI OF LUCCA
CHAPTER II CONCERNING HEREDITARY PRINCIPALITIES
CHAPTER III CONCERNING MIXED PRINCIPALITIES
CHAPTER IV WHY THE KINGDOM OF DARIUS, CONQUERED BY ALEXANDER, DID NOT REBEL AGAINST THE SUCCESSORS OF ALEXANDER AT HIS DEATH
CHAPTER V CONCERNING THE WAY TO GOVERN CITIES OR PRINCIPALITIES WHICH LIVED UNDER THEIR OWN LAWS BEFORE THEY WERE ANNEXED
CHAPTER VI CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED BY ONE'S OWN ARMS AND ABILITY
CHAPTER VII CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED EITHER BY THE ARMS OF OTHERS OR BY GOOD FORTUNE
CHAPTER VIII CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED A PRINCIPALITY BY WICKEDNESS
CHAPTER IX CONCERNING A CIVIL PRINCIPALITY
CHAPTER X CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH THE STRENGTH OF ALL PRINCIPALITIES OUGHT TO BE MEASURED
CHAPTER XI CONCERNING ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPALITIES
CHAPTER XII HOW MANY KINDS OF SOLDIERY THERE ARE AND CONCERNING MERCENARIES
CHAPTER XIII CONCERNING AUXILIARIES, MIXED SOLDIERY, AND ONE'S OWN
CHAPTER XIV THAT WHICH CONCERNS A PRINCE ON THE SUBJECT OF WAR
CHAPTER XV CONCERNING THINGS FOR WHICH MEN, AND ESPECIALLY PRINCES, ARE PRAISED OR BLAMED
CHAPTER XVI CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS
CHAPTER XVII CONCERNING CRUELTY AND CLEMENCY, AND WHETHER IT IS BETTER TO BE LOVED THAN FEARED
CHAPTER XVIII CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH PRINCES SHOULD KEEP FAITH
CHAPTER XIX THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED
CHAPTER XX ARE FORTRESSES, AND MANY OTHER THINGS TO WHICH PRINCES OFTEN RESORT, ADVANTAGEOUS OR HURTFUL?
CHAPTER XXI HOW A PRINCE SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF SO AS TO GAIN RENOWN
CHAPTER XXII CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES
CHAPTER XXIII HOW FLATTERERS SHOULD BE AVOIDED
CHAPTER XXIV WHY THE PRINCES OF ITALY HAVE LOST THEIR STATES
CHAPTER XXV WHAT FORTUNE CAN EFFECT IN HUMAN AFFAIRS AND HOW TO WITHSTAND HER
CHAPTER XXVI AN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE BARBARIANS
DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS ADOPTED BY THE DUKE VALENTINO WHEN MURDERING VITELLOZZO VITELLI, OLIVEROTTO DA FERMO, THE SIGNOR PAGOLO, AND THE DUKE DI GRAVINA ORSINI
THE LIFE OF CASTRUCCIO CASTRACANI OF LUCCA
A Few Machiavelli Quotes
- On War: - "...war is not to be avoided, but is only to be put off to the advantage of others."
- On Mercenaries: - "The mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not; if they are, you cannot trust them, because they always aspire to their own greatness, either by oppressing you, who are their master, or others contrary to your intentions; but if the captain is not skilful, you are ruined in the usual way."
- On Morality: - "...it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity."
- On Faith: - "Every one admits how praiseworthy it is in a prince to keep faith, and to live with integrity and not with craft. Nevertheless our experience has been that those princes who have done great things have held good faith of little account, and have known how to circumvent the intellect of men by craft, and in the end have overcome those who have relied on their word."
- On Criminal Conquest: - "...it is to be remarked that, in seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily; ...For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer."
- On Cruelty: - "a prince, so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies; for these are wont to injure the whole people, whilst those executions which originate with a prince offend the individual only."
- On Reputation: - "...a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved.
- "On Reputation: - "as princes cannot help being hated by someone, they ought, in the first place, to avoid being hated by everyone, and when they cannot compass this, they ought to endeavour with the utmost diligence to avoid the hatred of the most powerful."
- On Liberality (being generous with goods and money): - "...there is nothing wastes so rapidly as liberality, for even whilst you exercise it you lose the power to do so, and so become either poor or despised, or else, in avoiding poverty, rapacious and hated. And a prince should guard himself, above all things, against being despised and hated; and liberality leads you to both. Therefore it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred, than to be compelled through seeking a reputation for liberality to incur a name for rapacity which begets reproach with hatred."
- On Policy: - "Never let any Government imagine that it can choose perfectly safe courses; rather let it expect to have to take very doubtful ones, because it is found in ordinary affairs that one never seeks to avoid one trouble without running into another; but prudence consists in knowing how to distinguish the character of troubles, and for choice to take the lesser evil."
- On Avoiding Flattery: - "A prince, therefore, ought always to take counsel, but only when he wishes and not when others wish; he ought rather to discourage every one from offering advice unless he asks it; but, however, he ought to be a constant inquirer, and afterwards a patient listener concerning the things of which he inquired; also, on learning that any one, on any consideration, has not told him the truth, he should let his anger be felt."
There is much food for thought in this fascinating work, much of which is as relevant now as when it was written. It would continue to reward after many readings.
There is plenty of analysis available online for those desiring a deeper understanding of the book's origins, context and influence.
Read as an e-book downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg, on my Kobo Touch e-reader.
There is plenty of analysis available online for those desiring a deeper understanding of the book's origins, context and influence.
Read as an e-book downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg, on my Kobo Touch e-reader.