Machiavelli recommended that the characteristics of a good ruler would be that they behaved cruel rather than merciful It was better to be stingy than generous. They weren’t a man of their word because they believed if the promise was not in their best interest then they should not keep the promise. Yet through all of this the princes were better off loved by the people as it is a good defense. This used to confuse me how the people would not despise the prince for these qualities but rather be cheered on. I could see to some extent how these behaviors make sense. Such as you don’t want to be too generous and lose any balance in the state. The key is always balance I think. Usually too much of anything is not good. People are often appalled
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A15th century political advisor and political theorist who argued that we shouldn’t think the politicians are immoral and simply bad for lying. A good Politician in machiavelli’s view is not one that is friendly and kind. It is someone, however dark they might be, knows how to defend, enrich, and bring honor to the state. Being nice may well be a virtue in general, but what citizens most need from their rulers is effectiveness. Once this basic requirement is understood, people stand to be less disappointed and clearer about what they want from our politicians. Machiavelli proposed that the overwhelming responsibility of a good prince is to defend the state from external and internal threats. A good prince should know how to fight and also know about the reputation and the management of the people around him. People should neither think that he is soft and easy to disobey nor should they find him so cruel that he disgusts his society. He should seem strict but reasonable. Similar to how most good bosses are, even professors! When Machiavelli turned to the question of whether it was better for a prince to be to be loved or feared, he wrote that while it would theoretically be wonderful for a leader to be both loved and obeyed, a
A15th century political advisor and political theorist who argued that we shouldn’t think the politicians are immoral and simply bad for lying. A good Politician in machiavelli’s view is not one that is friendly and kind. It is someone, however dark they might be, knows how to defend, enrich, and bring honor to the state. Being nice may well be a virtue in general, but what citizens most need from their rulers is effectiveness. Once this basic requirement is understood, people stand to be less disappointed and clearer about what they want from our politicians. Machiavelli proposed that the overwhelming responsibility of a good prince is to defend the state from external and internal threats. A good prince should know how to fight and also know about the reputation and the management of the people around him. People should neither think that he is soft and easy to disobey nor should they find him so cruel that he disgusts his society. He should seem strict but reasonable. Similar to how most good bosses are, even professors! When Machiavelli turned to the question of whether it was better for a prince to be to be loved or feared, he wrote that while it would theoretically be wonderful for a leader to be both loved and obeyed, a