Machiavelli's Prince Summary

According to Machiavelli “As every city is divided into guilds or into societies, he ought to hold such bodies in esteem, and associate with them.” “A wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful.” In the latter case their government is weaker and more insecure, because it rests entirely on the goodwill of those citizens who are raised to the magistracy, and who, especially in troubled times, can destroy the government with great ease, either by intrigue or open defiance; and The Prince has not the chance amid tumults to exercise absolute authority, because the citizens and subjects, accustomed to receive …show more content…
” This strategy works because: “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them;” “It is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.” Machiavelli goes on to say that to truly be “merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright” Everyone admits how praiseworthy it is in a prince to keep faith, and to live with integrity and not with