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Niccolo Machiavelli: What Makes A Good Leader?

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Recommended: Ethics in organizations and leadership

Up until 1532 leaders in Italy were supposed to rule according to traditional ethic norms (Niccolo). This was until The Prince. The Prince is an essay that Niccolò Machiavelli wrote during a time of political conflict in Italy. This essay was his attempt to end the conflict and bring resolution to the peninsula (Niccolo). However; it did quite the opposite, instead it brought more conflict and uneasiness to the people. While many disagree with Machiavelli’s points about what makes a good leader, I find them favorable. While leaders during this time were expected to please everyone, Machiavelli makes the point that it is not possible to do so. One argument he makes is “A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily …show more content…

Secondly, Niccolò states that the reputation of those who are put above others brings them either praise or blame (669). This statement basically means that qualities that make a person unique or the actions they make, make them desirable or hated. For example, when Trump proposed that he was going to build a wall along the border of Mexico it made many people change their views towards him, and impact the rest of his presidency. Machiavelli also stated “I know that everyone will admit that it would be highly praiseworthy in a Prince to possess all the above-named qualities that are reputed good, but as they cannot all be possessed or observed, human conditions not permitting of it…” (670). This is saying that it is impossible to possess every good …show more content…

His points about being a good leader such as not being able to please everyone and spending brought disagreement amongst many. However; I found these points favorable and felt like he made good arguments on each one. The Prince helped show leaders what they should do in order to be effective in their work and how to stop all the political

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Machiavelli argues the perfect prince will be both feared and loved by his people, and if unable to be both he will make himself feared and not hated. Machiavelli believes it is much safer to be feared than to be loved because people are less likely to offend and stand up against strong characters, also people are less concerned in offending a prince who has made himself loved. Accordingly, Machiavelli believes generosity is harmful to your reputation and the choice between being generous or stingy, merciful or cruel, honest or deceitful, should only be important if it aids the prince in political power. All in all, Machiavelli believes the ruler must be a great deceiver and do what is essential to uphold power over the

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One aspect of Machiavelli’s theory which significantly contributes to his reputation as the “philosopher of evil,” is his advice to the prince on keeping their word to the public. In chapter eighteen, Machiavelli states, “a wise ruler cannot, and should not, keep his word when doing so is to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that led him to promise to do so no longer apply” (pg. 37). To simplify, Machiavelli says princes are obligated to lie in certain circumstances. He also states that while it is unnecessary for the prince to have positive qualities, such as honesty, trustworthiness, sympathy, compassion, or be religious, it is essential for the prince to be viewed so by the public (pg. 37). While many people argue that Machiavelli’s legitimization of lying and deception in politics is immoral, I argue the opposite.

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A leader’s cruelty enables him to make the decisions necessary for the kingdom, while also being miserly to keep the people happy. I think that Machiavelli’s advice provides a sound basis on how leaders today can lead. On other hand, others may argue that Machiavelli’s advice leads rulers astray and rather rulers should be kind and generous because morally that is the right thing to do. No matter the interpretation of how a ruler should lead, Machiavelli's analyst of a leaders provides insight into everyday life and causes leaders today to think about how they

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He cannot be too generous, because that increases people 's expectations of him and it is impossible to keep buying the people 's love as the price gets too high. Yet, the prince should not be hated due to his violent nature, because that rises up. The prince should act in ways that keep him in power and maintain his own power. He should be able to read the character and motives of others in order to use them for his own ends.

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