MACHIAVELLI: Be the Wolf Among Sheep

Summary

Niccolò Machiavelli, known for his pragmatic and often ruthless political philosophy, is explored in this script. Born in Florence during political turmoil, Machiavelli's work, particularly 'The Prince,' advocates for the separation of morality and political power. He believed that effective leadership required a blend of cunning and ruthlessness, often at odds with traditional Christian virtues. Despite his controversial ideas, his writings offer a profound understanding of human nature and the realities of power, influencing modern politics and earning him the reputation of a historical villain.

Takeaways

• 😈 Machiavelli is often viewed as history's original villain due to his abandonment of traditional morals and his advocacy for ruthlessness and deceit in political leadership.
• 🏛 Born in Florence in 1469, Machiavelli grew up in an era of political instability and societal chaos, which influenced his later work and philosophy.
• 👥 His family background, with a skeptical father and a devout mother, contributed to his complex views on religion and morality.
• 👤 Machiavelli's early career saw him rise to high political positions in Florence, despite the lack of clear records explaining his rapid promotions.
• 📚 'The Prince' was written by Machiavelli in exile, intended as a guide for rulers and a means to regain political favor with the Medici family.
• 🤬 In 'The Prince,' Machiavelli argues that a leader's success is not measured by moral character but by the ability to maintain power and build a great nation.
• 🗡 He admires Cesare Borgia for his ruthlessness, seeing him as embodying the ideal leader, despite Borgia's cruel and deceitful actions.
• 👣 Machiavelli suggests that it is safer for a leader to be feared than loved, as fear is more reliable and enduring than the fickleness of love.
• 😈 He also argues that leaders should appear virtuous, even if they must act deceitfully or cruelly to maintain power and achieve their goals.
• 👁 Machiavelli rejects the idea that the world is run by God or fortune, instead advocating for personal agency and adaptability in the face of change.
• 🐉 He acknowledges a 'beast within' humans, suggesting that while we should not suppress our desires, we must learn to control and channel them effectively.

Q & A

Who is Niccolò Machiavelli and why is he often considered the epitome of villainy?

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, philosopher, and writer from the Renaissance period, best known for his political treatise 'The Prince.' He is often considered the epitome of villainy due to his advocacy for ruthless and deceitful behavior in politics, which diverged from traditional moral and religious values.

What was the political climate like in Florence during Machiavelli's time?

The political climate in Florence during Machiavelli's time was marked by instability and corruption. The government was theoretically a republic, but in practice, it was heavily influenced by the powerful Medici family, who manipulated the system to maintain control.

How did Machiavelli's early life experiences shape his political philosophy?

Machiavelli's early life was influenced by the political dysfunction and corruption he witnessed in Florence. His exposure to the harsh realities of politics, including the brutal consequences of failure, contributed to his later belief that effective leadership often requires the abandonment of traditional morality.

What were the key positions Machiavelli held in the Florentine government?

Machiavelli held several key positions in the Florentine government, including being appointed to the Second Chancery, one of the two main state departments, and serving as Secretary of the Ten of War, a committee that dealt with foreign relations and war preparations.

What event led to Machiavelli's fall from grace and subsequent exile?

Machiavelli's fall from grace occurred when the Florentine Republic was overthrown in 1512 and the Medici family returned to power. Suspicious of his loyalty, they imprisoned, tortured, and eventually exiled him.

What is the central theme of Machiavelli's most famous work, 'The Prince'?

The central theme of 'The Prince' is the pursuit of political power and the effectiveness of leadership. Machiavelli argues that a ruler should prioritize maintaining power over adhering to traditional moral values, suggesting that ruthlessness and deceit can be necessary for political success.

How does Machiavelli's view on morality differ from the prevailing philosophy of his time?

Machiavelli's view on morality diverges from the prevailing philosophy of his time by arguing that moral character is not the measure of a leader's greatness. Instead, he posits that the effectiveness of a leader is determined by their ability to maintain power and build a strong nation, even if it requires immoral actions.

What is the significance of Cesare Borgia in Machiavelli's 'The Prince'?

Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI, is presented by Machiavelli as an ideal leader in 'The Prince.' Machiavelli admires Borgia's ruthlessness and cunning, using him as an example of how a leader can achieve success through any means necessary, including deceit and violence.

According to Machiavelli, what is more important for a leader: being loved or being feared?

Machiavelli suggests that while it would be ideal for a leader to be both loved and feared, if they must choose, it is safer to be feared. He argues that people are unreliable and can change their love, but fear is a more constant and effective motivator.

How does Machiavelli view the role of honesty in politics?

Machiavelli believes that honesty, while admirable, is not always the most effective approach in politics. He argues that a cunning leader can be more successful than an honest one, as circumstances may require deceit and manipulation to maintain power.

What is the concept of 'virtù' in Machiavelli's philosophy, and how does it relate to 'Fortuna'?

In Machiavelli's philosophy, 'virtù' refers to a set of qualities, such as talent, boldness, and cunning, that enable a person to achieve their desires and be successful. It is pitted against 'Fortuna,' which represents the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces of fate. Machiavelli suggests that while 'Fortuna' may influence half of what we do, the other half is within our control through the exercise of 'virtù.'

How does Machiavelli's personal life and career reflect his political philosophy?

Machiavelli's personal life and career do not necessarily exemplify the ruthless effectiveness he advocates in his writings. Despite his theoretical embrace of deceit and cruelty for political gain, historical records do not show him practicing these principles in his own political career, which was largely insignificant.

What is the legacy of Machiavelli's work, and how has it influenced modern politics?

Machiavelli's work, particularly 'The Prince,' has had a lasting impact on political thought and language. His name has become synonymous with political cunning and duplicity. While his ideas have been embraced by politicians worldwide, they have also been the subject of controversy and debate, reflecting the ongoing tension between ethics and political ambition.

Outlines

00:00

😈 Machiavelli's Philosophy of Power and Deception

Niccolò Machiavelli is introduced as a historical figure whose political philosophy diverged significantly from traditional morality. He is depicted as a proponent of ruthlessness and deceit, advocating for a pragmatic approach to power that disregards conventional ethics. Born in Florence in 1469, Machiavelli's life was influenced by political instability and societal chaos. His early experiences with corruption and brutality shaped his later work, which includes 'The Prince,' a guide for rulers that emphasizes the importance of power consolidation over moral character. Machiavelli's writings reflect his belief in the necessity of adopting cruel and unscrupulous tactics to maintain political power and build a strong nation.

05:01

👑 The Separation of Ethics and Political Power

This section delves into Machiavelli's groundbreaking idea of separating political success from moral goodness. He argues that a leader's effectiveness is not measured by their moral character but by their ability to build a great nation, which may require actions that defy traditional ethics. Machiavelli's work, 'The Prince,' is highlighted as a manual for maintaining political power rather than a guide for moral living. The summary also discusses Machiavelli's admiration for Cesare Borgia, who exemplified the ruthless and cunning leadership style that Machiavelli believed was necessary for political success. It explores the idea that it is safer for a leader to be feared than loved, as fear is a more reliable motivator for obedience.

10:03

🦊 The Art of Deception and the Appearance of Virtue

Machiavelli's disregard for honesty and the importance of appearances in leadership are the focus of this paragraph. He posits that a cunning leader can be more effective than an honest one, as circumstances often require deceit to maintain power. The summary explains that Machiavelli believed leaders should appear virtuous to win public adoration, even if they must act otherwise behind the scenes. The outcomes of a leader's actions are what ultimately determine their success, not the methods used to achieve those outcomes. This paragraph also touches on Machiavelli's rejection of Christianity and his belief in the unpredictability and unreliability of people, which justifies his pragmatic approach to leadership.

15:05

🐉 Embracing the Beast Within and Adapting to Fortune

This section discusses Machiavelli's belief in the inherent 'beast' within humans, suggesting that beneath our moral exterior lies a primal drive to fulfill desires at any cost. Machiavelli advises not to suppress this instinct but to work with it, being ethical when possible but ruthless when necessary. The summary also covers his concept of 'virtù,' which represents the traits that enable one to succeed, as opposed to 'Fortuna,' the unpredictable forces of chance. Machiavelli encourages leaders to be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and to control what they can, while acknowledging the influence of luck or fortune in their endeavors.

20:07

🏛 The Chasm Between Ideals and Reality in Machiavelli's Worldview

The final paragraph examines the gap between how Machiavelli believed the world should be and how it actually is. He warns against the perils of conducting oneself according to idealistic principles that do not align with the harsh realities of the world. The summary highlights Machiavelli's belief that to be successful, one must operate within the context of the world's true nature, not an imagined utopia. It also reflects on the irony of Machiavelli's own life, where his political career was marked by failure despite his profound insights into power and leadership. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the lasting impact of Machiavelli's work, which has influenced modern politics and continues to spark debate about the ethics of political leadership.

Keywords

💡Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism refers to the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, which emphasizes the necessity of ruthlessness and deceit for maintaining political power. In the video, it is the central theme, illustrating how Machiavelli's work, particularly 'The Prince,' advocates for a pragmatic approach to leadership that often contradicts traditional morality. The video uses Machiavellianism to explore the complex relationship between ethics and political success.

💡Political Instability

Political instability denotes the condition of a government or state being susceptible to change, often due to internal conflicts or power struggles. The video describes the turbulent times in Florence during Machiavelli's life, marked by frequent changes in government and the Medici family's manipulative control, which greatly influenced Machiavelli's political thought.

💡Cesare Borgia

Cesare Borgia was a historical figure and a subject of admiration in Machiavelli's 'The Prince' for his ruthless and effective leadership. The script uses Borgia as an example of a leader who embodied Machiavelli's principles, particularly his ability to use cruelty and deceit to consolidate power, as illustrated in the story of Ramiro de Lorqua.

💡Virtù

Virtù, in Machiavelli's philosophy, represents the strength of character, intelligence, and skill needed to achieve one's goals and overcome fortune. The video explains how Machiavelli believed in the importance of virtù for a leader to shape their destiny, contrasting it with the whims of fortune, and how it is distinct from traditional moral virtues.

💡Fortuna

Fortuna symbolizes the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces that can affect one's life or political career, as discussed by Machiavelli. The script explains that while Fortuna may control half of one's outcomes, the other half is within one's power to influence through virtù, emphasizing the need for adaptability and preparation.

💡Realism

Realism, in the context of the video, refers to the pragmatic and often cynical approach to politics that Machiavelli advocated, which prioritizes effectiveness over moral considerations. The video describes how Machiavelli's realism is reflected in his advice for rulers to be feared over being loved, and to be willing to act immorally when necessary to maintain power.

💡Christian Morals

Christian Morals are the ethical principles derived from Christian teachings, which Machiavelli is known to have rejected in his political philosophy. The video discusses how Machiavelli believed that adhering strictly to Christian morals could hinder effective political leadership, creating a dichotomy between morality and political success.

💡Fear

Fear, as discussed in the video, is a tool that Machiavelli suggests rulers should use to maintain control over their subjects. The script explains that while it's preferable for a leader to be loved, it's safer to be feared because fear is a more reliable motivator for compliance than love.

💡Deceit

Deceit is the act of deceiving others, which Machiavelli considered a legitimate and sometimes necessary strategy for a ruler. The video uses examples from 'The Prince' to illustrate how Machiavelli advised leaders to be willing to lie and break promises when it serves their interests.

💡Power

Power is the central focus of Machiavelli's philosophy as presented in the video, where he argues that the ultimate goal of a leader is to acquire and maintain political power. The script discusses how Machiavelli's advice on leadership is aimed at securing power, often through ruthless and cunning means.

💡Banishment

Banishment refers to the state of being expelled from one's country or home, which Machiavelli experienced after the Medici family returned to power in Florence. The video mentions his banishment as a turning point in his life, during which he wrote 'The Prince,' reflecting on his experiences in politics.

Highlights

Nikola Machiavelli is considered history's original villain due to his abandonment of traditional morals and creation of a system based on ruthlessness and deceit.

Machiavelli's life was marked by political instability and societal chaos, which influenced his philosophy.

Born in Florence in 1469, Machiavelli came from a wealthy but not well-off family, with a skeptical father and a devout mother.

Florence's government was theoretically a republic but was practically a dictatorship under the Medici family's manipulation.

Machiavelli's early life was influenced by witnessing political corruption and brutality.

Despite his family's political downfall, Machiavelli achieved a high level of education and held significant government posts at a young age.

Machiavelli's work, 'The Prince,' was written for Lorenzo Medici and is a guide for rulers, advocating for power retention over moral goodness.

Machiavelli believed that being good was not the measure of a leader's success, but rather the ability to build a great nation.

He argued that morality could not always align with effective political leadership, divorcing political theory from ethics.

Machiavelli admired Cesare Borgia for his ruthlessness, seeing him as an ideal leader despite his deceitful actions.

According to Machiavelli, it is safer for a leader to be feared than loved, as fear is more reliable than love.

Machiavelli rejected the importance of honesty in politics, advocating for cunning and deceit when necessary to maintain power.

He believed that leaders should appear virtuous to the public, even if they must act otherwise behind the scenes.

Machiavelli's philosophy suggests that people are inherently unreliable, dishonest, and selfish, and leaders must reflect these traits to succeed.

He rejected Christianity as a means to deal with life's problems, emphasizing the importance of personal agency over fate.

Machiavelli introduced the concepts of 'virtù' and 'Fortuna,' suggesting that success in life is a balance between personal strength and external circumstances.

He believed in the existence of a 'beast within man,' advocating for the understanding and control of one's darker instincts to achieve goals.

Machiavelli's writings emphasize the gap between how the world should be and how it is, urging leaders to operate within the reality of the world.

Despite his controversial ideas, Machiavelli's legacy has influenced modern politics, with his philosophy describing political machinations almost perfectly.

Machiavelli's work was initially self-defeating, as his ideas made him an undesirable political ally, yet his influence on political thought is undeniable.

The character of Machiavelli has become synonymous with evil in popular culture, but his actual thesis was more nuanced, focusing on the compatibility of Christian morals and political leadership.

Transcripts

nikolo Machiavelli is perhaps history's

original villain for good enough reason

Machiavelli abandoned traditional morals

he rejected Christianity and he ripped

apart goodness at its very foundation in

its place Nicolo Machiavelli created a

structured system of ruthlessness and

deceit

Machiavelli offers a tangled web of

contradictions profound truths

villainous advocacy and single-minded

determination

but by looking beyond the now famous

brand of Machiavelli you can find some

grim and relevant truths about the world

we live in today and how to function

within that world

to understand at all the philosophy of

Machiavelli you do need to understand

his life and to a degree the times he

grew up in these times were marked by

political instability and societal chaos

Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence

in 1469 came from a wealthy family but

his father Bernardo was the poorest of

that family

Bernardo was a former lawyer mostly

unemployed who had a good network of

relationships but not much to show for

kibelli's father was skeptical of

religion or at least as skeptical as one

could be in his era his mother meanwhile

was a devout woman who spent her time

writing religious poems and hymns this

combination of religious skepticism and

talented writer would certainly form the

basis for Machiavelli's later work

time Florence was a republic on paper

anyways the Florentine government

consisted of eight priori who were all

led by one sort of prime minister every

two months these people would be elected

via a lottery system from the names of

well-to-do respectable Florentine men in

theory this allowed a constant changing

of power so that no single profession or

geographic area could seize control

entirely or permanently

in practice the system was an absolute

disaster every two months there were

wholesale changes to government approach

and priorities so the ruling Medici

family had stepped in they manipulated

the lottery system ensuring that all

eligible names were friendly and would

tow the Medici line

in reality Florence was functioning like

something of a dictatorship

this level of corruption wasn't really

rare in Italy rather it was closer to

the norm than an exception Wars raged

around Europe for territory Italian

mercenary government leaders changed

sides the drop of a hat this is all to

say Machiavelli grew up in a society

where the idea and the reality of how

things operated were wildly Divergent he

had a front row seat to political

dysfunction and Corruption meanwhile he

learned from a young age the price of

failing as a politician

near his ninth birthday conspirators

against the Medici family were hung

upside down from the government's main

building and left there for weeks to rot

this combination of corruption and

brutality were seemingly formative in

Machiavelli's later career

people don't really know much about

Machiavelli's early life but he did

achieve a significant level of Education

after the Medici family was pushed from

power in 1494 Machiavelli was appointed

to a Florentine government office where

he authored government documents

shortly thereafter Machiavelli earned

himself a couple of promotions he was

appointed to Second Chancery which was

one of two key State departments in

Florence he also became Secretary of the

Ten of War this was a committee that

dealt with foreign relations and War

preparations

Machiavelli was just 28. to this day no

one knows how he earned such high posts

at such a young age there are no

documents or records to indicate any

special experience that would have

deserved these promotions

people often downplay Machiavelli as a

failed politician which perhaps later

will be true but isn't entirely correct

for over a decade he was Florence's top

Diplomat while his work did not produce

any truly remarkable results this was

probably through no fault of his own

Florence was the weakest of the main

Italian States during a truly tumultuous

period

to that point in 1512 the Florentine

Republic was overthrown and the Medici

family returned to power

suspecting Machiavelli of conspiracy the

medicis imprisoned tortured and exiled

him the following year

it was there in Exile that Machiavelli

produced his most famous work

the prince was not the only thing

Machiavelli wrote but it's his most

famous and most influential so we'll be

looking at Machiavelli's philosophy

predominantly but not entirely through

the lens of this book

the prince was meant to be a guide for a

ruler indeed it was written expressly

for Lorenzo Medici head of the Medici

family and we'll talk more about that

later

for a long time the prevailing

philosophy said that the measure of a

Leader's greatness was by his goodness

his moral character this was certainly

not always put into practice but it was

the ideal

in the prince Machiavelli tossed that

out entirely he said that for a leader

all that mattered was concentrating and

keeping one's power

being good was not the measure of a

Leader's success but rather building a

great nation in this way Machiavelli

divorced entirely political Theory from

ethics

the book is not a manual for living but

rather a manual for keeping one's

political power for being an effective

leader

in this Pursuit Machiavelli rejected

Christianity and placed very little

value on traditional morals more

precisely he argued that morality was

fine but a person simply couldn't always

act morally and Be an Effective

politician

this took courage perhaps cruelty in a

dark sort of boldness but courage

nevertheless Machiavelli could have

padded his messages he could have said

oh you have to do all of this to stay in

power and that's why power isn't really

good could have expressed a disdain for

the type of person he believed could

hold on to power in writing this way

Machiavelli could have eliminated a

great deal of criticism and controversy

while still fundamentally delivering the

same messages

but instead in this short volume

Machiavelli systematically rips apart

morality and instead constructs a deeply

troubling and at times profoundly

accurate assessment of the world

cesare Borgia was the son of Pope

Alexander VI with his father's help

Borgia was building himself a new

Italian State near Florence in 1502.

Borgia conquered the city of chesina and

immediately went off to go continue his

work

in his place Borgia ordered his

right-hand man Ramiro delorca to bring

order to chesina

told delorca to do whatever he wanted be

as ruthless as cruel as horrific as he

needed to be delorca obeyed he beheaded

men in front of their families he seized

property he castrated anyone who went

against this rule after this version of

Peace was established Borgia went to

Chestnut himself

Borgia learned that of course the people

of the town now hated delorca and by

extension hated him too

after all delorca had just spent a few

months killing people's fathers

castrating their brothers and abusing

their wives

so one night borja had his men sliced

the lorca's body in two pieces place

these two pieces along with his severed

head on a stick in the middle of town

square

the next morning the townspeople awoke

and saw Dolores mutilated remains on

full display being that they hated the

Lorca the people were pretty happy about

this Borgia addressed his citizens with

flagrant deceit told them that delorca

had usurped power and acted entirely on

his own volition that Borgia had never

granted him the right to commit such

atrocities he said that delorca was a

Savage sadistic psychopath Borgia told

the people that he had saved them from

this monster and that dolorka's level of

Cruelty and Disobedience simply couldn't

be allowed in the Great Society that he

was trying to build

it was a ruthless severe and underhanded

double cross from Borgia committed

against one of his closest comrades

throughout the prince Machiavelli

expresses a deep admiration for cesare

Borgia he exalts Borgia as basically the

ideal leader

you see Machiavelli believed that

goodness was fine it was great to be

good even but you could not be an

effective leader and be good all of the

time for Machiavelli politics was an

unending Knife Fight It inherently

required ruthlessness he says a leader

cannot always be compassionate loyal

Humane and honest because the very

nature of the role requires you to be

cruel disloyal inhumane and dishonest

Machiavelli presents the question should

one be loved or feared his answer is

revealing he says that it would be great

to be both but they don't always go

together and broadly it's safer to be

feared rather than loved

Machiavelli says people are unreliable

some are cowards some lie some can be

bought some just change their mind these

things will happen he says no matter how

much these people claim to love you but

fear Machiavelli argues that is

permanent punishment is a tangibly

threatening thing that keeps people

permanently in line

you can get over love

can change your mind

it's much more difficult to get over

fear indeed Machiavelli argues that you

can't control what or how people love

but you can control what they fear

it's a fine line though fear is good but

Machiavelli maintains that a leader

should never for any reason be hated

hatred of later he said is what inspired

assassinations and conspiracies if you

have to engage in violence if you have

to be cruel do it quickly do it quietly

it was not to create hatred amongst your

people

be loved when possible be feared when

not

but never ever be hated

that was a successful politician for

Machiavelli

nikolo Machiavelli was also happy to

cast aside honesty he recognizes that

it's admirable to be honest sure but he

argues it's simply not effective by

outwitting one's opponents Machiavelli

said the cunning leader more effective

than the honest leader he says that it's

okay to lie to go back on your word to

deceive people or even stab them in the

back circumstances change and so must

your commitments it's not ethical but

this is what it takes to maintain power

and build a great nation

Machiavelli argues that people will lie

to you so what obligation do you have to

be truthful to them in being honest

you're giving your opponents an

advantage you're refusing a weapon that

you know they will have

this disregard for honesty expresses

itself further while Machiavelli

maintains that you don't really need to

have virtuous qualities the great leader

needs to appear to have them you see

Machiavelli says it takes two things to

win the people's adoration appearances

and results

most people he says will only know a

leader through his words very few

individuals will ever see what goes on

behind closed doors and so your

constituents will judge you based only

on what they see not anything that they

experience the things you say need to

feel inspired by virtues because that's

how people will judge you of course he

goes on to say they will also judge your

achievements based on results

results at methods you won't always be

able to get results through honesty

kindness or any other virtue

that's just not how the game is played

and so we have the house that

Machiavelli built or at least the one

that is so famous

not inherently or always cruel but so

willing to be cruel willing to deceive

to lie and to hurt

It Is marred by cynicism or perhaps as

he would say realism

multiple times in his writings

Machiavelli declares people to be

unreliable dishonest and selfish and so

you need to be these things too

but to reduce Machiavelli down to these

terms is kind of inaccurate among his

writings there are profound truths

perhaps worryingly profound

[Music]

Machiavelli famously rejected

Christianity as a legitimate way to deal

with life's problems

in the prince he derisively writes I

realize that many people have believed

and still do believe that the world is

run by God and by fortune and that

whoever shrewd men may be I can't do

anything about it and have no way of

protecting themselves

in these words Machiavelli sort of

scoffs at the idea of God running our

world and controlling our Fates

in a way it's tremendously inspirational

you have agency over your life not God

now go do something with that agency as

ever Machiavelli takes a practical

approach his approach to not just

politics but life itself is a battle

between Veer 2 and Fortuna

throughout his book The Prince

Machiavelli relies on the concept of

virtue of course the word itself brings

to mind virtue but that would be an

incorrect translation

Machiavelli wasn't interested in the

simple dichotomy of good and evil but

rather the Pursuits of success over

failure and the need for strength over

weakness really there's no great single

word translation for the idea of veer 2.

prowess comes to mind as does strength

of character but viewer 2 is perhaps any

trait that allows you to achieve your

desires it could be Talent boldness

bravery will cunning intelligence or any

number of other specific skills

broadly it is something that inspires a

sense of agency with Veer 2 you can be

truly great

in life virtue is pitted against Fortuna

Machiavelli says for tuna here is a more

straightforward concept it is Fortune

look

Machiavelli tells us that Fortuna

basically decides half of what we do the

other half is up to us and our fear too

it makes the analogy of a river that

routinely floods a plane destroying a

village and killing its people that is

Fortuna but we can do something with

this Fortuna we can build Banks and dams

so that the river can flood all at once

and the people will not be harmed

this is the meeting of fortuna and

virtue Fortune he says wields power only

in places you allow it to with

preparation through fear 2 you can at

least be ready to meet Fortune when it

arrives

conversely a person can be successful

One Day by doing X Y and Z then fail the

next day doing the exact same thing

this is because Fortuna changes this way

Machiavelli tells us we must be ready to

adapt keep your approach in step with

your circumstances in so many words

adapt or die

nikolo Machiavelli believed there was a

Beast Within man that beneath whatever

morals we espouse or even act out there

is something else within us there's an

animal that wants nothing more than to

fulfill desire and will do anything it

must to achieve these ends

perhaps he was ahead of his time a

psychologist Carl Young would later

refer to something like this as the

shadow while Freud may consider it the

subconscious

much like these men Machiavelli insisted

that we don't suppress this Beast nor do

we let it take control but we must

instead learn how to work with it be

ethical be kind and be just whenever you

can but in the pursuit of a goal being

like the Beast Be Like The Lion who can

scare away hyenas be like the fox who is

too cunning to fall into traps playing

by the laws morals and methods of man

will only get you so far

Machiavelli offers profound Insight when

he discusses another dichotomy the way

the world should be versus the way the

world is this Insight I feel is perhaps

the most chillingly accurate in all of

his writings he says there is an

enormous glaring gap between these two

things if you conduct yourself in a way

that is in accordance with what the

world should be rather than the way that

it is you are authoring your own

destruction Machiavelli basically says

the world is not a Utopia there's

goodness in it but it is not wholly good

there are traps lies and threats you

need to be wary of these things you need

to function in a way that provides

resilience in the face of these

realities

live in accordance with how the world is

not how you think it ought to be

this I think more than categorizations

of villainy or evil gets to the core of

the Machiavellian philosophy

still for all his insights when we try

to put Machiavellian principles into

practice we do run into some problems

Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a gift

to Lorenzo Medici the head of the Medici

family it was an attempt to earn

medici's trust and favor and basically

get himself a job mind you Machiavelli

did this after the medicis had him

imprisoned tortured and exiled

Machiavelli never got his job Lorenzo

probably never even read the prince

but even if he had I think Machiavelli

still wouldn't have gotten the job of

all people Machiavelli should have

understood that his ideas were maybe

just publishing them could fuel only an

author's career not one of a politician

Machiavelli's work is self-defeating

look at the things he advocates for

deceit backstabbing cruelty opportunism

why would you ever want this man in your

inner circle How Could You willingly

invite him into any meaningful position

Machiavelli's principles when broadcast

anyways become incredibly anti-social

and perhaps even counterproductive at

the very least Machiavelli sacrificed

himself to espouse his ideology who

would read The Prince and want to be

anywhere near Nicolo Machiavelli well

the answer to that was demonstrably no

one You could argue that you'd rather

have him on your side than the other

guys but while not an entirely failed

politician Machiavelli never Rose to any

significant positions of power

he never drafted any constitutions he

never let any revolutions and he was

never in charge of any cities or

countries for all of his theorizing

Machiavelli never seemed to put his

ideas into practice with huge efficacy

indeed there are no records of him ever

doing anything that was machiavellen of

course he also advocates for secrecy and

cunning so perhaps Nikola Machiavelli

just managed to hide things from history

but historical record does not shine

brightly on his life outside of

authorship

after the prince's failure Machiavelli

fell back into a life of womanizing he

fell in and out of love quite routinely

and pursued little more than his

romantic desires

Machiavelli went on to write sexual

comedic plays which earned him

undeniable and immediate celebrity but

he wanted to be in politics

eventually Machiavelli was called upon

by a Medici cousin for advice on a

looming French and Spanish conflict

Machiavelli was given the task of

overseeing Florence's defensive walls

when the fight came the Spanish Army

simply bypassed Florence altogether

instead they sacked Rome quite easily

the Medici family collapsed once again

and Machiavelli was out of favor and

unemployed

he got ill and Niccolo Machiavelli died

within a month

his political career was largely

insignificant but still Machiavelli's

Legacy is strong his rioting undeniably

put a stamp on history

the prince was not published during

Machiavelli's life but when it did

appear in print an English Cardinal

declared that it had been written by

quote Satan's finger then Pope Paul IV

banned the book immediately

in France conflicts between the

Protestant huguenots and Catholics

threatened to rip the country apart

the nation was under the rule of Charles

IX but he was sickly and young in

reality his mother Catherine Medici was

the one pulling the strings his mother

who was an Italian Florentine and the

daughter of Lorenzo Medici the very man

to which the prince had been originally

dedicated

in the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre

a 1572 thousands of huguenots were

murdered and Catherine was held to blame

one would have been victim you know

jaunty lay escaped and wrote a work that

firmly established Machiavelli as a

villain in history the book described

Catherine as a compulsive reader of

Machiavelli and characterized the author

as representative of a cruel villainous

Italian identity the writings pulled

Machiavelli's work from its context and

readers were convinced that they

understood the philosophy in truth what

they read was a hodgepodge of

Machiavellian ideas that seemed to

embrace brutality and advocated for the

rejection of virtue entirely but this

was the version of Machiavelli that

became democratized Jean delay's work

was translated into Latin and then

English well before the prince itself

existed in English

this version of Machiavelli's writing

moved from intellectual Elites into

popular culture the character of a cruel

machiavellan archetype leaked into

famous plays in literature so

Machiavelli's name became synonymous

with evil

in truth Machiavelli's thesis was only

that Christian morals and effective

political leadership were not always

compatible I think most people today

would probably agree with this sentiment

while the tide never really turned on

Machiavelli his philosophy has been

embraced by politicians the world over

it should be said that these politicians

were not exclusively moral or amoral

leaders not exclusively authoritarian or

permissive

whether he predicted it or caused it or

some combination of the two

Machiavelli's writings describe modern

political machinations almost perfectly

today's politicians must and do maintain

a facade of morality and hopefully act

on it when possible but in reality there

is certainly a divorce between ethics

and political Ambitions no matter where

you stand politically I think we can all

agree this is mostly true

I personally don't find the early

political discussion around Machiavelli

entirely compelling rather I think that

examining his opinions on life the world

and how to operate within it reveal

Timeless wisdom wisdom that sometimes

we'd rather not accept

I find myself resistant to much of the

cynicism offered by Machiavelli

certainly I would never aspire to be

like cesare Borgia nor would I want a

leader like him either in fact I believe

people to be inherently good but

presented with this I am sure nikolo

Machiavelli would laugh in my face you

would say I am playing right into what

he warns against Machiavelli would tell

me I am living how I think the world

should be not how it really is

this way there is a single-minded

determination to Machiavelli's writings

doesn't care one way or the other about

being a good person doesn't care about

any God he doesn't care about friends

instead his philosophy cares only about

one thing power

I suppose there is something admirable

to such determination even if it isn't

wholly relevant to every individual

like all great villains Machiavelli is

dangerous

it is dangerous to subscribe wholesale

to his ideas and indeed it is perhaps

equally dangerous to ignore them

completely