Machiavelli argues that someone can gain power through his own ability or by good fortune. Good fortune could possibly come in the form of being born into power, buying power, or being assigned a governmental position. Machiavelli believes that it is very easy to come into power with fortune but very difficult to come into power with one's own ability. On the other hand, staying in power after acquiring it by fortune is very difficult whereas staying in power after acquiring it by virtue is rather simple. Machiavelli supposes this because people who have come into power with fortune "rest simply on the will and fortune of whoever has given a state to them essay on bacon, which are two very inconstant and unstable things. They do not know how to hold and they cannot hold that rank: they do not know how" (26). In other words, Machiavelli believes that individuals who acquire their power through fortune are unable to successfully hold their power because they do not have the necessary experience or foundation to effectively lead a state. Since fortune controls half of one's life and the other half is controlled by one's own skill and ability, Machiavelli believes that, as mentioned before, a successful prince is capable of using his own ability to counteract bad fortune. He analyzes what a prince should do during times of peace so as to be prepared for times of war. His views on this concept are rather simple; "a prince should have no other object, nor any other thought, nor take anything else as his art but that of war and its orders and discipline" (58). Machiavelli expounds his argument by saying that a prince can prepare for war by exercising his mind and his actions. In order to train the mind, a prince should study past battles, wars, and leaders. Furthermore, in order to exercise his deeds, a prince should go on hunting trips so as to further understand his state's land and keep his armies strong. Published: 23rd March education websites, 2015 Last Edited: 23rd March, 2015 In summary, Machiavelli believes that one's ability controls half of his life and the other half is controlled by fortune. In order to be an effective leader, a prince must not become too reliant on good fortune and must overcome any obstacles that arise by using his own talents. Additionally, the prince must use his abilities to anticipate bad fortune so as to be prepared to combat it when it arrives. Furthermore, a prince must truly love and be virtuous to his country. He must love his country enough so as to be willing to employ certain vices such as cruelty, frugality, and deception. He must be feared and respected by the public but he must ensure that he is not hated. Machiavelli believes that if a prince or a ruler were to follow all of his recommendations and admonitions then that prince would surely be able to attain magnificence and be able to preserve his principality. Machiavelli compares fortune to a powerful and flooding river that inflicts destruction of plants, houses, and valuable resources. Although there is nothing that can be done to stop a raging river already in progress an essay on history of computer, preventable measures can be taken to ensure that such a river inflicts little to no harm by building dams and barriers. Similarly, fortune "demonstrates her power where virtue has not been put in order to resist her and therefore turns her impetus where she knows that dams and dykes have not been made to contain her" (98). In the same way that one can prevent a catastrophic river by building dams, a prince should strive to anticipate bad fortune so as to be capable of resisting it when it arrives. When new provinces share the same nationality and language as the prince’s main dominion, then “it is very easy to hold them.” However, if great differences in language and customs exist essay on texting and driving, “the difficulties to be overcome are great.” The best way to overcome such differences is for the new ruler to set up residence in the principality. This enables a prince to keep close watch on his state and to quickly resolve any troubles as they arise. The next best option is to “plant colonies in one or two key places.” Colonies have several advantages: They are inexpensive and are far “more faithful, and give less offence,” because those few landowners who are dispossessed are too weak and scattered to fight back. Maintaining a new state by posting armed guards is the least favorable method. Now, says Machiavelli, Italians everywhere have called on Lorenzo the Magnificent to act as their prince how to write the perfect essay, “as a prudent and resourceful man to shape them. ” just as the Israelites waited to be led out of Egyptian bondage by mighty Moses, so Italy, left almost lifeless after years of foreign occupation and internal dissension, prays for someone “who may heal her wounds … who will rescue her from her barbarian insolence and cruelty… “ Princes acquire power by a number of methods: by good fortune, ability, villainy business internship cover letter examples, or by “the favour of his fellow-citizens, which may be called a civic principality.” If a villain-prince conquers a state, he “must arrange to commit all his cruelties at once, so as not to have to recur to them everyday and so as to be able … to reassure people and win them over by benefiting them.” In instances when a prince has been elevated to power by his fellow-citizens, authority is conferred either by the aristocracy or by the populace. However, ” he who becomes prince by help of the aristocracy has greater difficulty in maintaining his power than he who is raised by the populace,” for the aristocracy rarely relinquishes complete power and often has the means to usurp a prince’s authority. Type of Work: Since it is better for a prince to rule by the counsel of ministers, these must be chosen carefully. The prince must select ministers who are completely devoted to him, and he example of case study analysis business, in return, must always reward his ministers with praise and wealth so that they remain devoted. “When a prince can discern what is good and bad in the words and deeds of another, he will be able to distinguish between his minister’s good and bad performance mom essay, praising the one and correcting the other …. When you see a minister who thinks more about his own interests than about yours … then you will be sure that such a man will never be a good minister. ” A prince writing an essay about someone, at times, requires honest opinions. “A prudent prince [selects] for his council wise men, and [gives] these alone full liberty to speak the truth to him, but only of those things that he asks and of nothing else.” Above all else, “flatterers must be shunned.” “The kingdoms known to history have been governed in two ways: either by a prince and his servants [ministers]; or by a prince and by barons.” In the latter case, ruling is burdensome; barons have subjects of their own and are accustomed to exerting authority. In conquering a state dissertation writing services in uk, a prince can easily find barons who will join a movement to overthrow their king; but once the region is conquered it will be difficult to hold research papers on english, since the barons may again band together to overthrow their new prince. On the other hand, “in those states which are governed by a prince and his servants, the prince possesses more authority.”
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