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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
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? ? ? ? ?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