Resumo de The Prince - Nicolo Machiavelli

Machiavelli is often associated with a ruthlessness. That is due almost entirely to a superficial and simple reading of his Prince. Machiavelli was an intelligent man who had spent a lifetime in politics despite the fact that he was not of ?noble? or ?aristocratic? lineage. What this means is that his family lacked legitimate social status in the highest class. Niccolo Machiavelli was able to become a trusted governmental advisor because of his intellect and virtu (skill).
When the republican form of government he loved was ousted, he was left in a precarious situation. He was jobless and associated with the former government. His attempt to ingratiate himself into the new monarchial government was to write a treatise. The Prince functions as both a resume to the new monarch, Lorenzo di Medici, and guidebook. It showcases Machiavelli?s knowledge of Italian history as well as basic leadership principles derived from those studies. It is important to note here that Machiavelli produced many other writings including an innovative and well-respected military treatise, The Art of War, and another on republican government couched in an analysis of Livy?s texts, The Discourses.
The Prince is intended to outline the basic ways a monarch can gain and retain power. Machiavelli wants Lorenzo di Medici to think about his forefather whose name he has but not his epithet, ?The Magnificent.? Lorenzo?s forefather, ?The Magnificent? ruled in such a way as to earn the compliment. Machiavelli is banking on this association. In addition to that, Italy has descended from a once great Empire, Rome, into smaller, bickering city-states. The Prince is also an attempt to invoke the possibility of a new unity perhaps to be lead by Florence and Lorenzo.
In these functions the book often is viewed negatively. Machiavelli is admitting and even condoning a ?ruthlessness? in great leadership. Often modern American readers are thrown by the use of the Italian ?virtu.? It is hard to separate it from ?virtue? and that words positive connotations. This is a mistake. ?Virtu? is simply akin to ?skill? (if it can be simply associated, which I doubt). It often requires a new leader to sacrifice his personal virtue to virtu and for the larger outcome of a strong and lasting government. That bigger picture should in turn, because of an amoral virtu of the leader, contain a type of virtue. What all this means is that the leader might have to do some nasty things in order to rule and lead his people to a better place.It is easy to condemn what Machiavelli espouses in The Prince. That is simplistic and idealistic. Machiavelli, from his study of history and great men, recognizes that power is not simply and easily gained and maintained. Often the greater good requires some ruthless actions.

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