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Machiavelli's Duty In The Prince Essay

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According to Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, The first duty of a prince is to maintain power and acquire more. If the princes of Machiavelli’s time followed his advice and searched only for power, what does this mean for the people? The first priority of a prince or ruler should be to improve the kingdom and protect the citizens. Machiavelli stated that one’s duty, as a prince is to be as powerful as can be, however, as a ruler the first priority should be the people, and as a prince, to be selfless, good, and wise. Machiavelli hinted in his strong statement of duty, that the princes of his time should put their selfish desires ahead of the people’s welfare. On the contrary, the person in power should be selfless to his kingdom and act for the good of the people. If he employs the philosophy of Machiavelli and decides for his own pleasure to gain more power, he wouldn’t be suitable to rule not even the smallest of towns. The role of a ruler is a very sacrificing and …show more content…
A ruler is for the people. In the catechism of the Catholic Church, it blatantly says, “Authority is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it.” The sovereign is to help and keep the subjects in focus in the goal for the kingdom: The people won’t respect or want to fight for a cruel and selfish king. And while the king may think his fight is elsewhere, his kingdom will start to crumble from the inside out. This is what happened to Rome in the time of one of the world’s cruelest emperor’s, Nero. He was a king who was only in it for himself. He wanted power and wealth and didn’t care in the slightest if his people were to perish. Rome was such a beautiful nation, but when placed in the wrong hands of a self-centered ruler Rome fell easily. The once stunning and respected city soon became ruins before the eyes of the

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