Some of the people of Machiavelli’s time who were honorable people that he wrote about had qualities that, if they were alive today, would probably make them very successful in certain categories of business.
Cesare Borgia would probably do the best in a company that was worldwide, fighting for the top. He would succeed greatly if this company had factories and plants all over the world, distributing to all the people of Earth. “He was never esteemed more highly than when everyone saw that he was complete master of his own forces.” (Chapter XIII) Cesare Borgia was a person that would get what he wanted, and with the entire world at his fingertips, his business would be very successful. “Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; notwithstanding, his cruelty reconciled the Romagna, unified it, and restored it to peace and loyalty.” (Chapter XVII) His cruelty could also be a key to success, like so many business men today. Sometimes one must be cruel in order to succeed, and his would cause no hesitation for Cesare.
Oliverotto da Ferno was trained in strength and fighting as a young child. All he wanted to do was “attain some high position in the military profession,” so he would be very successful in some organization such as the mafia. He was willing to kill anyone, even his guardian who raised him, to get what he wanted. “No sooner were they seated than soldiers issued from secret places and slaughtered Giovanni and the rest. After these murders Oliverotto, mounted on horseback, rode up and down the town and besieged the chief magistrate in the palace, so that in fear the people were forced to obey him, and to form a government, of which he made himself the prince.” (Chapter VIII) He would have to problem in ascending to the top in an organization like the mafia.
Ramiro d’Orco is described as “a swift and cruel man.” (Chapter VII) When he was given power, he “restored peace and unity with the greatest success.” (Chapter VII) He seemed to be very in control of what he was doing, and also very clever and able to succeed in what he was doing. I think that Ramiro would do best if he were in control of a chain store. He would easily be able to control and oversee what was going on in all of his stores. He would be sly and clever and keep up on the latest trends and deals, and would quickly be able to beat out his opponents.
2.
When one thinks of allies, they usually think of neighboring or powerful countries that a prince would want to be allied with. While these bonds can be extremely helpful, there is one much more important than that. A prince’s greatest ally is his people. Without his people backing him up, the prince can never accomplish anything. If the people, for example, tried to revolt, or got upset with him, then there would be nothing that he can do about it. Machiavelli says “One who becomes a prince through the favour of the people ought to keep them friendly,” because if the people became riled up his reign could be destroyed and they could overthrow him, just by the amount of people that they have (Chapter XIX). However, destroying the prince’s reign is not all that his people can do. They can either make it or break it. If the prince were to go to war or had an instance where he needed a large force backing him up, his people would be right there behind him; but only if he kept on good terms with them. Machiavelli reveals that “by arming them [the people], those arms become yours, those men who were distrusted become faithful, and those who were faithful are kept so, and your subjects become your adherents.” (Chapter XX) Machiavelli is explaining that some princes are afraid to give weapons to their people just in case the people decide to rise up against him. However, on the other hand some princes do give weapons to their people, because as long as the prince keeps them on his good side, those weapons and people are his during battle. By doing good things for your people, giving them things they want, their loyalty will stay with you. While the prince must be careful not to give too much of a good thing to his people, keeping them under control but happy is very important.
3.
It is a very delicate matter to figure out when to be generous, and when to be not so generous. Generosity is a good and admired quality, but a prince does not want to be too generous, or he may squander away his kingdom. On the other hand, the prince also does nto want to be considered cruel or mean. “…I say that it would be well to be reputed liberal. Nevertheless, liberality exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it, injures you; for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be exercised, it may not become known, and you will not avoid the reproach of its opposite.” (Chapter XVI) Machiavelli is saying that it is a great thing for a prince to be considered liberal, or generous, and that that is what the prince should aim for, but it is very easy to mess his up. In the text, Machiavelli says that the prince would need to make sure not to tax his people too much, but to tax just enough, for example. “Pope Julius the Second was assisted in reaching the papacy by a reputation for liberality, yet he did not strive afterwards to keep it up..” (Chapter XVI) Machiavelli explains that one can raise up into a high position by being liberal, but once one is in that position they should give it up. Machiavelli ends this with the thought that being mean is better by saying “Therefore it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred, than to be compelled through seeking a reputation for liberality to incur a name for rapacity which begets reproach with hatred.” (Chapter XVI)
4.
The Beatitudes are the word of God, showing the moral way to live and what one must do to get to heaven? But Machiavelli sounds so knowledgeable and correct, so why do the Beatitudes contradict with what he says? Many lines of the beatitudes show a different opinion than that of Machiavelli. For example, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.” (Beatitudes) Machiavelli says “it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness.” (Chapter XVI) Throughout “The Prince” Machiavelli is saying that it is better to be mean and assertive, and that that is the only way to get anywhere. The beatitudes also state: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Beatitudes) The ideal prince that Machiavelli describes is not very merciful at all. Machiavelli expects the prince to do what it takes to have the principality to succeed. While Machiavelli does instruct the prince have some moral qualities, he mostly instructs the prince to fight his way to the top. Machiavelli wants the prince to be sly and sneaky, while the beatitudes instruct people to be pure of heart, “For they will see God.” (Beatitudes) Also, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled, according to the beatitudes, but this is not what Machiavelli wants. Machiavelli’s prince would be willing to kill anyone to get to the most prominent position. These methods are wrong; they are not God’s will. If one were to follow the rules of the beatitudes, there would be no need to be sly or sneaky, everything would be perfect.
5.
As stated above, though the Beatitudes do create a perfect world, this world is not very true to the way that society has worked at any point in history. The Beatitudes seem like more of a distant goal, not something that can be accomplished now. This is because people fight and cheat each other all the time because of their own selfish reasons, just like Machiavelli suggests in “The Prince.” He gives an example of someone who succeeds by being cruel: “Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; notwithstanding, his cruelty reconciled the Romagna, unified it, and restored it to peace and loyalty.” (Chapter XVII) The beatitudes say that “blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. “(Beatitudes) This definitely does not hold true to Machiavelli’s qualifications of a good prince. Also, “Blessed are the poor in heart, for they will see God” (Beatitudes) is another item in the Beatitudes that would be hard for people to follow at any point in history. The Beatitudes argue that good actions lead to good effects, while on the other hand Machiavelli announces that bad and underhanded actions lead to the good success. Sometimes one has a hunger for power or a need to be the top, and this is just fine. A prince who follows the rules of Machiavelli will be able to safely lead his kingdom to victory, and while there are rules telling the prince to be mean, inside that prince really cares for his people and the future of his principality.
- "Medieval Sourcebook: Nicolo Machiavelli: The Prince, 1513."FORDHAM.EDU. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2010. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/machiavelli-prince.html>.
Matthew 5:3-12 New International Version
