Moral Compromises In Niccolo Machiavelli's Julius Caesar

When Julius Caesar was challenged by the Roman Senate to lay down his arms and return to Rome unarmed and alone to face a trial for multiple charges for crimes his political opponents thought appropriate, he had to make a choice, go to Rome as asked and most certainly be tried, convicted and exiled, maybe executed, or he could march on Rome at the head of his Army. This scenario is one which countless individuals over every century have faced, not the part about leading an Army necessarily, no, but the scenario of moral compromise revolving ends and means. Niccolo Machiavelli is most famous for his attributed version of a quote many have sliced up and simplified from the original involving moral compromise involving ends and means. Now, Machiavelli never said the famous quote so succinctly simple, it was a tad more robust, generally he states “and in the actions of all men, and especially of Princes, where there is no court to appeal to, one looks to the end. …show more content…
It is surmised by many, though the amount of interpretations which have been made on this subject could fit a library, that when speaking relatively to fit the day and age of the interpreter that one who acts in accordance with intent to preserve a legitimate power or Government to benefit order and the general welfare of the state to include whoever the Prince maybe, is morally justified in using almost any mean to earn and end to accomplish what was just mentioned earlier on the subject. In the quote above by Machiavelli we see his belief, his intent, written to the benefit of those who read it and apply it with the context it was stated; it should be asked for clarification purposes is there too far regarding does an end justify a