Parenting In Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

Parenting is not a popularity contest, and for good reason. Many times what is best for a child, or for the family unit, is not enjoyable or even comfortable – but for the ultimate good, it must be done. Ruling a nation is not so far removed, in fact they are much the same when it comes to fostering goodness and contentment. It is impossible to please everyone, and any attempt at achieving such widespread approval oftentimes loses the respect of all. Yet, if not a popularity contest the question naturally arises, what is it to be patriarch, or monarch, of a group of people; (whether that group be a household or a country it does not matter) what makes the best ruler? In order to determine what is “best,” one must determine what is most virtuous and beneficial for the nation as a whole. In The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli attempts to approach this idea of what makes a great monarch, not just a monarch who rules, but a monarch who rules in a way that is ultimately the best for the people he is serving. While it may seem that the figure Machiavelli is portraying is domineering and ruthless, a closer look will show that the “end” is always the good of the people, even …show more content…
As Machiavelli shows, without the support of the people, and their ultimate security, the ruler will not maintain power for very long. The same could be said for a household. If a home is built on honor, obedience, and prudence, even if the children do not agree with every decision of the parent, there will be trust and with that there will be peace and happiness. Therefore, it can be determined that the most virtuous way to rule, at least in the eyes of Machiavelli, is in such a way as to foster stability in a nation. Such a stability that will allow for flourishing and growth in society and respect for a leader that far outlasts mere