Is it better to be loved or feared? This is a question that has plagued leaders for a long time. In the great courts throughout history and throughout our life, understanding why and how people move is essential to success. But to truly understand the greatness of this you must first learn of the man, the tutor, the enlightened one. Then we will discuss perhaps the greatest book ever written, nay not the the bible but The Prince. Lastly we will discuss his fall. Machiavelli was a great man and studying his history, the prince and his fall, may guide one to succeed.
Machiavelli is considered to be father of modern political science and ethics. When you think of a renaissance man, Machiavelli is perhaps one of the forerunners for this archetype as he was a historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and least of all writer. But to truly understand him, you must understand the circumstances that he grew up in. He grew up in a war torn country, the Church and city-states often battled for power trying to establish control. No side wanted to wage an all-out and often your allies would be your enemies and your enemies be your allies in the blink of an eye. This turmoil formed the mind of someone who then understood the intricacies of court and people. He rose quickly through the ranks and was soon put in command of the Florence militia. He stayed there until Florence was defeated by the Medici family.
During the turmoil that was Florence’s independence from the Medici family and the Church, Machiavelli worked on his notes to provide education for the Princes of the nation. He took all that he had learned of intrigued and politics and put them into something easily understood and comprehended. Perhaps the greatest quote is the one which opened this essay, where he argues that a leader should choose to be feared rather than love. You can be kind and take care of your people if you are feared, but being feared will deter your enemies from trying to put a knife in your back. The Prince breaks down the interactions that happen at court and how a just and fair ruler should address them. Most people are confused because generally Machiavelli is described as a cold hearted person, but the fail to understand that not having a strong leader can leave you open to attacks from within and outside. The book illustrates in great detail how to stop these attacks and when it is appropriate to act.
Many people mock, if he was so great why did he fall? His fall from glory was not easy and had to do with a smaller force of a city-state versus the whole Spanish army. The Medici, who won the war against Florence, did not go easy on poor Machiavelli. After being tortured for weeks, he was finally let go to his estate to finish out his life. “I enter the ancient courts of rulers who have long since died. There, I am warmly welcomed, and I feed on the only food I find nourishing and was born to savor. I am not ashamed to talk to them and ask them to explain their actions…………. I forget every worry. I am no longer afraid of poverty or frightened of death.” This sums up the end of his life. His last years spent analyzing that which he tried to understand and harness.
In conclusion, Machiavelli led the life of a patriot, a revolutionist and a martyr. He wrote the quintessential book on political ethics and argued for a harsh reality most did not see or understand. Throughout his life, even until death, he strove to understand politics on level that many will never truly understand. And even when tortured and shamed continued his life confined to his estate trying to better understand political science. Machiavelli was a great man and studying his history, the prince as well as his fall, may guide one to succeed.