Machiavelli's Idea Of Truth

I was surprised at how Machiavelli gives advice that is contrary to what the reader would expect. When thinking of how a prince should behave, one would think that they need to be gracious and compassionate, but the author advises to do the complete opposite.

I like the way the author provided historical example to support his declarations. I thought it helped to further prove his points and showed the reader that many of his claims had truth to them.

I could not believe it when Machiavelli compared “Fortune” to a woman that should be beaten. Although it fit into his idea of required harshness the author was trying to make, I thought it was a bit of an extreme comparison.

I wonder if Machiavelli truly believed his assertions about oppression