Machiavelli

No one gave better expression to the Italians’ love affair with political power than Niccolo Machiavelli. His book //The Prince// is one of the most influential works on political power in the Western world. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote //the Prince// in the early 1500s. Machiavelli’s central thesis in //The Prince// concerns how to acquire—and keep—political power. In the Middle Ages, many writers on political power had stressed the moral side of a prince’s activity—how a ruler ought to behave based on Christian principles. Machiavelli rejected this popular approach. He believed that morality had little to do with politics. From Machiavelli’s point of view, a prince’s attitude toward power must be based on an understanding of human nature, which he believed was basically self-centered. Political activity, therefore, should not be restricted by moral principles. Machiavelli believed “the ends justify the means”, meaning that as long as a goal is reached, it doesn’t matter how you reached it. A prince acts on behalf of the state. According to Machiavelli, then, for the state’s sake, a prince must be willing to let his conscience sleep. In other words, a prince must be willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the state is strong, and not let morality get in the way. As long as the state is strong, his actions are justified, even if he has to lie, cheat, steal, or kill. Machiavelli also believed that it was better for a leader to be feared rather than loved. He believed that people are more likely to obey someone they fear. He believed that love didn’t stop people from taking advantage of or obeying a leader. Machiavelli was among the first to abandon morality as the basis for analyzing political activity. His views have had a profound influence on political leaders that followed.
 * Machiavelli **