Machiavelli Interpretive Essay on Fear Vs Love
The Prince: Is it Better to be feared or loved?
“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. (23)” This excerpt is no less true today than when it was written five-hundred years ago in “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli. He makes this comment at the beginning of his infamous political treatise because he recognized that men are stubborn creatures of habit; hence, any ideological innovation is hindered by the fear of change. Nevertheless, Machiavelli ventured boldly into uncharted waters with the intention to repudiate the ideals of his predecessors. He calls into question all previously conceived notions of morality and societal norms regarding the means by which a state should be ruled. Subsequently, “The Prince” represented a seismic shift in political thought during the Italian Renaissance, and is considered to have laid the foundations on which modern day realism was built on.
As a result of Machiavelli’s departure from the ways of old he creates practical methods by which he believes a ruler should abide by to be successful in all matters concerning his ability to obtain and maintain power. Machiavelli designed “The Prince” to function like a guidebook for rulers, and suggests unequivocally that he is not concerned with appealing to the idealistic or imaginary methods of his predecessors. Therefore, he never attempts to sugar coat any of his viewpoints because “The Prince” was intended for practical application. He believed a ruler shouldn’t be burdened by the imaginary constraints society had created, and he must play by his own rules to have total authority. Above all, he wanted to portray the “effectual truths” of mankind as they are, and not how he imagines them to be. Machiavelli makes this point clear when he states, “since my intention is to say something that will prove of practical
“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. (23)” This excerpt is no less true today than when it was written five-hundred years ago in “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli. He makes this comment at the beginning of his infamous political treatise because he recognized that men are stubborn creatures of habit; hence, any ideological innovation is hindered by the fear of change. Nevertheless, Machiavelli ventured boldly into uncharted waters with the intention to repudiate the ideals of his predecessors. He calls into question all previously conceived notions of morality and societal norms regarding the means by which a state should be ruled. Subsequently, “The Prince” represented a seismic shift in political thought during the Italian Renaissance, and is considered to have laid the foundations on which modern day realism was built on.
As a result of Machiavelli’s departure from the ways of old he creates practical methods by which he believes a ruler should abide by to be successful in all matters concerning his ability to obtain and maintain power. Machiavelli designed “The Prince” to function like a guidebook for rulers, and suggests unequivocally that he is not concerned with appealing to the idealistic or imaginary methods of his predecessors. Therefore, he never attempts to sugar coat any of his viewpoints because “The Prince” was intended for practical application. He believed a ruler shouldn’t be burdened by the imaginary constraints society had created, and he must play by his own rules to have total authority. Above all, he wanted to portray the “effectual truths” of mankind as they are, and not how he imagines them to be. Machiavelli makes this point clear when he states, “since my intention is to say something that will prove of practical
Bibliography: Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trans. Harvey C Mansfield. 2nd. The University of Chicago Press, 1998.