Comparing The Qualities Of The Prince And Letter From Birmingham Jail

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President Obama echo a leadership of both Niccolo Machiavelli "The Qualities of the Prince" and Martin Luther King Jr. "Letter from Birmingham Jail". Machiavelli point of view to become a successful prince was that you must lead your people. He talks about how a prince should appear to his people for authority. There are different types of principles such as war and is it better to be loved or feared. He also emphasizes the importance’s that a prince must maintain his power. He said that war, A prince, therefore, must not have any other object nor any other thought, nor must he take anything as his profession but war, it's institutions, and it's discipline; because that is the only profession which befits one who commands; and it is of importance …show more content…

He talking about is it better to be loved or feared. He concluded that it can be considered both and but you can have one quality. Also, you should be feared by the people but your people shouldn't hate you in the process. He states, Therefore, a prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal; for with a very few examples of cruelty he will be more compassionate than those who, out of excessive mercy, permit disorders to continue, from which arise murders and plundering; for these usually harm the community at large, while the executions that come from the prince harm one individual in particular" (227). When president Obama made a speech at West Point talking about America was force to fight war in Afghanistan. As he spoke, it felt like he was speaking through Machiavelli point of view. He spoke about maintaining power which Machiavelli emphasizes on. President Obama strategies were for his people to fear him but not to be hated. He had changed something in the mission, I which he sent more troops to Afghanistan to try to keep peace. For Machiavelli point of view was good and bad quality which was good or bad in some cases. Obama delivering his speech manage to be feared but not hated by keeping his good guy image. One must considered Obama a prince like