The Salient Features of Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince”

Niccolo Machiavelli

Born in Florence, Italy on May 3, 1469. He received a quality and classical education typical of the humanist traditions of Renaissance Italy. He became close friends with Cesare Borgia of the powerful Borgia family. Mac [the name used by barrister79 for Niccolo Machiavelli]  lived at a time of continuous political conflict.

Salient Features of “The Prince”

1. Moral principles must yield to every circumstance, especially in such cases where sordid [dirty] and inhuman actions may  be required.

2. It is imperative to do anything necessary to maintain and to hold power.

3. The “Prince” must not be hated, he must endeavor to avoid hatred. It is best for him to be feared and loved, however, if both cannot be possible it is better to be feared than loved.

4. War and ruthlessness are requirements for actual survival.

5. It is understood that apparent cruelties and hostilities may be essential to maintaining stability and power; the end justifies the means.

6. The wisdom to seek advice and counsel only when it is needed.

7. Ethics and politics has no connections, it is entirely different and distinct from each other.

8. The “Prince” should endeavor to be seen as compassionate, trustworthy, sympathetic, honest, and religious. Although in realities, his duties are rarely any of these.

9. The rule of law will yield to the rule of force; the rule of law can only move when it has a considerable amount of force.

10. The “Prince” should maintain a good relation with the people.

Annotation: The significance of propaganda becomes apparent. Its importance is to neutralize the unrealistic expectations of the people. The creation of myths is necessary, people always love to entertain folklores.

11. It is a sin to hamper the people’s laws and customs. If the “Prince” would change it, he may do it either indirectly or gradually. The aim is to allow men to live quietly.

12. A virtuous “Prince” must protect and ally his weaker neighbors and weaken the stronger.

13. He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself.

14. In all difficulties of governance, the only effective means of establishing rule is by force.

15. The “Prince” relying solely on fortune has little chance of survival.

16. The prophetic “Prince” should not rely only on his prophetic sermons. [This was a lesson taken by Mac from the situation of Girolamo Savonarola, a friar of Florence who relied too much with his oratory]

17. All armed prophets have succeeded and all unarmed ones have failed; people are by nature changeable.

18. A “Prince” must group nobles according to whether they support him or not. The ambitious and cunning nobles should be looked upon as enemies to be carefully watched.

19. Support from the subjects is easily accomplished by not doing them harm or by not placing them in threat.

20. In fortifying a city, during stress, a virtuous “Prince” must keep the morale of his subjects high, while removing all dissenters.

21. The “Prince” must know his people, the cultures, the language, the territory and the military.

22. Don’t rely on mercenary armies because they don’t have loyalties. Their motivation to fight is for money. [Observation: By common sense, there is an element of fear of a counter-offer]

23. Don’t rely on auxiliary armies because they are more dangerous than mercenaries. They are united and controlled by competent commandants [Observation: Auxiliaries are considered dangerous because they are borrowed from an ally which may have a military business with the enemies; its possibilities are anchored on the fact that they are controlled by leaders of which the ally has no control]

24. A “Prince” who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.

25. The only ethics that matters is one that is beneficial to the “Prince” in dealing with the concerns of his state.

26. If a “Prince” is overly generous to his subjects, appreciations will be lost because they will only greed for more. Besides, over-generous is not economical – it will only result in grief. Building up a reputation of generosity has a little importance.

27. To avoid hatred, do not interfere with the property of the subjects, their women, or the life of somebody without proper justification.

28. For a “Prince” who leads his own army, it is imperative for him to observe cruelty because that is the only way he can command his soldiers’ absolute respect. [Annotation: This is a lesson Mac learned from Roman history on the armies of Hannibal and Scipio]

29. Between two warring states, it is wiser to choose a side rather than be neutral.

      Reasons: a.] If your allies win, you benefit whether or not you have more power than they have;

                    b.] If you are more powerful, then your allies are under your command; if your allies are stronger, they will always feel a certain obligation to you for your help;

                    c.] If your side loses, you still have an ally [Observation: A loser ally is more advantegeous than having no ally]

30. It is wiser for a “Prince” not to ally with a stronger force unless compelled to do so. It is an important virtue to have the wisdom to discern what ventures will come with the most reward and then pursuing it courageously.

31. The selection of quality servants is reflected directly upon the “Prince”’s intelligence, so if they are loyal the “Prince” is considered wise. [Observation: An impaired servant does not mean lack of quality, what is important is loyalty. Dracula had a perfect servant  although Reinhardt is not so mentally fit]

32. There are three types of intelligence:

      a.] kind that understands things for itself  – which is excellent to have.

      b.] kind that understands what others can understand – which is good to have.

      c.] kind that does not understand for itself nor through others – which is useless to have.

33. The “Prince” should avoid flatteries and flatterers.

34. A prudent “Prince” should have a select group of wise counselors to advise him truthfully on matters only that he inquires of. Any other opinions should be ignored.

35. The “Prince” should be wise enough to be firm and should avoid changing of the minds.