Machiavelli The Prince Essay

Analysis of The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. Machiavelli became a diplomat for fourteen years in Florence, Italy during the Medici family's exile. When the Medici family regained power in 1512, Machiavelli was sentence to a small amount of jail time. Once he was free, The Prince was composed during a time of political upheaval as advice to Lorenzo de’ Medici on how to stay in power, although Medici did not ask for this advice. The Prince became a handbook for politicians on how the use of ruthless, self-serving, cunning, tactics can be used to maintain powerful leadership. Eventually, this led to the term "Machiavellian", and established Machiavelli as the "father of modern political theory." The

“A prince must have no other objective, no other thought, nor take up any profession but that of war, its methods and its discipline, for that is the only art expected of a ruler. And it is of such great value that it not only keeps hereditary princes in power, but often raises men of lowly condition to that rank.” For Machiavelli all government actions are to be taken from a military vantage point. Due to the fact that government self-preservation is the over all intention, the Prince must welcome strategic, diplomatic and geographical tactics at all times. Machiavelli does not deem that the Prince be a man of many talents, instead that he is a man of one responsibility. That responsibility is to establish and maintain the substantiality of the state. In this case, I do see how warfare would be a vital necessity to maintain highest authority and not allow anyone, not even other states, to question his authority or status. With the overall goal still being to maintain power we must understand Machiavelli does not wish to inflict harm on anyone for no reason, he only uses the means of warfare if