MACHIAVELLI: Be the Wolf Among Sheep
Summary
TLDRNiccolò 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
😈 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.
👑 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.
🦊 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.
🐉 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.
🏛 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Machiavellianism
💡Political Instability
💡Cesare Borgia
💡Virtù
💡Fortuna
💡Realism
💡Christian Morals
💡Fear
💡Deceit
💡Power
💡Banishment
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
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