Assignment: AP European History
Reading Analysis: The Prince-by NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), a native Florentine, was a statesman and political theorist. The year before Machiavelli wrote The Prince, Giuliano de Medici began his short reign as the ruler of Florence (1512-1513) and imprisoned the republican Machiavelli, whom Giuliano had suspected of conspiring against him. Nevertheless, seeking to regain a position in government, Machiavelli dedicated The Prince to the powerful Lorenzo Medici, father of Giuliano. He further hoped that The Prince would inspire the Medici's to defend Italy from France and Spain. The work is notorious for its pragmatic (practical), amoral (without morals) advice to leaders.
Chapter XVII: Of Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved or Feared
Proceeding to the other qualities before named, I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must,however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness. Cesare Borgia was considered cruel, but his cruelty had brought order to the Romagna, unitedit, and reduced it peace and fealty. If this is considered well, it will be seen that he was really much more merciful than the Florentine people, who,to avoid the name cruelty, allowed Pistoia to be destroyed. A prince therefore, must not mind incurring (bringing on) the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and faithful; for, with a very few examples, he will be more merciful than those who, from excess of tenderness, allow disorders to arise, from whence spring bloodshed and rapine (plunder); for these as a rule injure the whole community, while the executions carried out by the prince injure only individuals. And of all princes, it is impossible for a new prince to escape the reputation of cruelty, new states being always full of dangers.
Nevertheless, he must be cautious in believing and acting, and must not be afraid of his own shadow, and must proceed in a temperate (moderate) manner with prudence (being wise) and humanity, so that too much confidence does not render him incautious (not careful), and too much diffidence (shyness) does not render him intolerant.
From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved. The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to wanting. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble (talkative), dissemblers (fake), anxious to avoid danger, and covetous (jealous) of gain; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt. And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined; for the friendship which is gained by purchase and not through grandeur and nobility of spirit is bought but not secured, and at a pinch is not to be expended in your service. And men have less scruple (smaller chance) in offending one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared; for love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purposes; but fear is maintained by a dread of punishment which never fails.
Still, a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate avoids hatred; for fear and the absence of hatred may well go together, and will be always attained by one who abstains (stay away from) from interfering with the property of his citizens and subjects or with their women. And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, let him do so when there is a proper justification and manifest reason for it; but above all he must abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony (land inherited from father). Then also pretexts for seizing property are never wanting, and one who begins to live by rapine (plunder) will always find some reason for taking the goods of others, whereas causes for taking life are rarer and more fleeting.
Task
Answer the following questions completely and thoroughly.
A. What does the term "Machiavellian" mean? Is it a positive or a negative term? FULLY explain your answer.
B. What does Machiavelli state about being cruel versus being lenient?
C. How does a ruler avoid being hated?
D. Does Machiavelli believe it is safer to be feared or loved? Why? Do you agree with Machiavelli? Why or why not?