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Similarities Between Machiavelli's Views Of Commoners And Nobility

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Machiavelli?s Views of Commoners and Nobility

Delena Leann Burchfield

University of the Cumberlands

LEAC 834: Leadership in Historical Context

Dr. Michael B. Colegrove

March 13, 2023

Machiavelli's Views of Commoners and Nobility
? ? ? ? ? ?Niccol? Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat who work for Prince Cesare Borgia. Machiavelli wrote the handbook for princes called The Prince. Machiavelli's name became synonymous with evil because of his cruel views on how a prince should act. Machiavelli (2003) states we can say that cruelty is used well when it is employed once and for all, and one's safety depends on it, and then it is not persisted in but, as far as possible, turned to the good of one's subjects. Machiavelli thought that cruelty is what keeps people in line …show more content…

? ? ? ? ?Machiavelli (2003) states that people everywhere are anxious not to be dominated or oppressed by the nobles, and the nobles are out to dominate and oppress the people. This quote causes us to believe that nobles were manipulative of the common people. Machiavelli (2003) then states that the opposing ambitions could bring one of three results: a principality, a free city, or anarchy.?
In views of nobility, Machiavelli (2003) stated that a man who becomes a prince with the help of the nobles finds it more challenging to maintain his position than one who does so with the help of the people, which means that the nobles will see themselves as equal which will lead to not being able to command or lead the nobles as the prince would like. On the other hand, Machiavelli (2003) states that a man who becomes a prince in favor of the people finds himself standing alone, and he has near him either no one or very few not prepared to take orders.?
Nobles can be independent or dependent on the prince. If a noble depends on the prince, their loyalty is adjacent. A noble's independence could mean they are cautious or ambitious. Ambitious nobles are dangerous to the

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The Prince: A Decidedly unMedieval Piece of Work The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, was a secular handbook that dealt with modern statecraft and leadership. In fact, this was the first modern book that discussed political science. This book has influenced many well-known leaders, such as Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. This essay will discuss the past behaviours of Machiavelli to prove that this book, The Prince, is a decidedly unMedieval piece of work which does not follow the idea of living life so that it is worthy of respect and honour, as stated in the Medieval Code of Chivalry.

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The main point made by Machiavelli was that men are inherently bad, so a leader must rule in a way that takes this into account. He taught that because of man’s ungratefulness, it is safer to be feared than loved (D-4). This shows that Machiavelli believed that the power and success of a country will lead to the prosperity of its inhabitants. Both influential people believed that a country prospers the most under absolute power.

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Then for Machiavelli he talks about how a prince should show no fear instead for him to show that he is the one with power. That a prince's people should fear him. Both authors go on to talk on how their people react based on the prince and princesse act. The authors then go on to explain how they should view and run their people. Both authors also reflect the fact that the way their people are going to act towards them is mainly based off of how they treat them.

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In Niccolo Machiavelli's book, The Prince (1513), he evaluates on how a prince can be a successful leader. Machiavelli’s purpose of this guidebook was to construct his argument to the rising ruler Giuliano de Medici for when he comes to power in Florence. He adopts a casual but authoritative tone in order to convince the prince that Machiavelli’s evaluation on how to be the best prince, is the right thing for the prince to do without coming off as he knows more than the prince or is trying to intimidate him.. Machiavelli’s reference to previous rulers and whether their tactics failed or succeeded helps to benefit his credibility along with his allusion to historic text. He appeals to our logic by simply stating a prince can only do what is within his power to control, and his use of an analogy furthers his argument.

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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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In comparison, Machiavelli explains that the prince should be in control and lead with his military instead of with his people. However, Machiavelli believes the prince’s power should not be forced, because it will never succeed.

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Machiavelli wrote about a fictitious prince, describing how he is a terrible being who has no respect for people who have a lower status than him. He is described as being selfish and untrustworthy. His writing about this prince was supposed to replicate princes and kings that were ruling and open he reader’s eyes to real issues occuring. In Document 1 there is an excerpt from The Prince, written by Machiavelli, telling about how terrible the Prince of England. Document 1 states, “For all men in general this observation may be made: they are ungrateful, fickle, and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers, and avid for gain, and while you are useful to them they are all with you, but when it [danger] approaches they turn on you”.

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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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More so, The Prince shows the cycle of power being lost and gained through the actions of every prince. With that, princes are the main actors to attain power or to lose power. In this paper, Machiavelli 's The Prince will be examined to study the actors, or princes, on the traits of power and the characteristics of a true prince for Machiavelli, while the study reiterates the examples or comparative facts that supported the work of reverence and of importance; it is to say, The Prince. The Princes are dependent variables. Machiavelli saw the prince as a person that is defined on what is at his own hands, principalities, armies, and so.

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