The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli is one the most influential pieces of writing about civil government. He discusses the qualities leaders must possess in order to rule effectively. When I first read the piece, it was very straightforward, told exactly what qualities are needed, and was organized into sections that grouped certain points. I was able to understand this and I think that is one of the main reasons that this piece is so influential. It does not go on and on, but Machiavelli is clear and concise. I also how true his points hold today. He discusses that leaders are very secretive and must do certain things to hold their power. The ideas from this piece are profound, yet they are a staple of how many leaders rule.
Machiavelli discusses a wide range of qualities needed to rule. He says leaders must do certain things, although unethical, to protect their power and/or kingdom. I see this very often in the news, many government officials are making deals with lobbyists for money and other privileges. Congressmen do not reveal these deals because many people see them as abuse of power and corruption. They do these deals in order to gain benefit for themselves or the people. Congressmen will keep these deals quiet because they do not want to get involved with conflict and also they protect their reputation. Machiavelli also states that a ruler must be prepared for war. He must study the battleground, history, and arsenal. He states a ruler must have arms to protect the land and the citizens. If he is unarmed and they remain idle, the citizens will be angry at him and opens vulnerability. He also discusses by having understanding of war, the soldiers will remain loyal to the ruler and the land. I notice this very often, countries are developing new weapons and technology to benefit them during war. Many people have expressed displeasure with the US withdrawal from Iraq because it could leave the US vulnerable. Many leaders must decide where to keep troops and what weapons to use. Machiavelli discusses the balances leaders must have. A leader must be feared, but not to the point he is hated. He also must not be loved as his opposition will find him weak. He also must find a balance of charity. He must give to the less fortunate to gain support, but he must not give to much that he could not live the life he is able to live. Machiavelli says a great leader will manage these balances and by doing so, he will hold his power, position, and land. This is shown today, as the government has many programs for the lower class, but Congressmen and Congresswomen hold high salaries along with the bonuses they may receive. Since they can manage these balances, they remain in Congress and still retain all rights that belong to a government official.
Machiavelli's piece is well known today and well understood. His concise diction create a sense of power to his ideas and many leaders embrace these ideas. He discusses how the leaders must not present the truth, but the truth that will be pleasing to the people. This is a radical idea at the time, but many leaders practice this philosophy, because if the people knew the truth, chaos would break out. His use of strong diction with these radical ideas magnifies the message of the prose. It influenced politics and many people know that what they see is not the whole truth. They understand the leaders cannot reveal the entire truth. When I read this piece, I understood what he was saying and realized that this is the truth and this is how our government operates today. By connecting the two, Machiavelli's ideas were easy to understand.
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