"The Prince" is a treatise by the Florentine thinker and statesman Niccolo Machiavelli, which describes the methodology for seizing power, the methods of government and the skills required for an ideal ruler.
The book was originally titled De Principatibus (On the Principalities). The treatise was written around 1513, but it was not published until 1532, five years after the death of Machiavelli. The book was a fundamental work of its time on the systematization of information about the state and its management.
“There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy." ― Niccolo` Machiavelli.
According to the form of government, states (Stati) are divided into republics (Repubbliche) and monarchies (Principati). Machiavelli describes three forms of coming to power: weapon, force or violence (armi, forza or violenza), luck (fortuna, fortune) or virtue (virtù). Since luck is not in the power of man, Machiavelli focuses on the power of arms and virtue, noting that one complements the other. “Armed preachers are winning” (Profeti armati vinsono), he writes. Machiavelli emphasizes that the sovereign must sometimes be like animals (bestia), of which he distinguishes a fox (volpe) and a lion (lione). Deprivation of power occurs as a result of the deprivation of external power (forza) or popular contempt (disprezzato), if the sovereign reveals obvious vices or violates the "way of life" of the country he rules.
Of the virtues, Machiavelli, following Aristotle, emphasizes generosity (liberalita - consistency as a quality of a free person). This is followed by mercy (clemenzia), although for the sovereign it acquires a special meaning, since it allows cruelty to prevent disorder. Machiavelli also lists prudence (prudenza) and humanity (umanita) among the virtues. He values virtue as a reputation (riputazione) that avoids hatred and contempt for shameful acts.
The unity of the country is formed by language (lingua), manners (costumi) and customs (ordini). Although Machiavelli drew attention to the fact that la natura de 'popoli è varia - the nature of the people is impermanent (Chapter VI). In describing the internal structure of society, Machiavelli distinguishes between the people (popolo) and the grandi (grandi). The wise sovereign (Principe prudente) rules, balancing between the two. Machiavelli places a high value on the French parlaments (Parlamento), as they monitor and control ambitious opponents within the country.
The source of his knowledge Machiavelli calls experience (esperienza), from which he derives "general rules" (regola generale). The experience of government should be drawn from history. Machiavelli admires such adventurers as Agathocles (Chapter VIII), who were able to achieve success (gloria) without having either virtue or luck. On the contrary, Agathocles was famous for cruelty (crudeltà) and inhumanity (inumanità). Considering this and similar historical examples, Machiavelli places benefit (utili) above virtue. This follows from the fact that the people value a successful ruler more than a virtuous one, since it is the success of government that contributes to the common good. In the context of a great goal, he admits a just war (guerra è giusta). In the XVII chapter of his treatise, Machiavelli notes the low nature of people, noting that they are generally ungrateful (ingrati), fickle (volubili), deceitful (simulatori), fearful (fuggitori).
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