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The Prince: By Nicolo Machiavelli & Illustrated
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The Prince (Italian: Il Principe) is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. The Prince is arguably the first works of modern political philosophy. Although it is relatively short, the treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works and responsible for bringing the word "Machiavellian" into usage as a pejorative. The base assumption in the treatise is that the aims of a prince — such as glory and survival — justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends.
Illustrations included
Unabridged
The Prince (Italian: Il Principe) is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. The Prince is arguably the first works of modern political philosophy. Although it is relatively short, the treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works and responsible for bringing the word "Machiavellian" into usage as a pejorative. The base assumption in the treatise is that the aims of a prince — such as glory and survival — justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2016
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About the author
Niccolò Machiavelli
2,188 books5,080 followers
The Prince
, book of Niccolò Machiavelli, Italian political theorist, in
1513 describes an indifferent ruler to moral considerations with determination to achieve and to maintain power.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, a philosopher, musician, and poet, wrote plays. He figured centrally in component of the Renaissance, and people most widely know his realist treatises on the one hand and republicanism of Discourses on Livy .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%...
1513 describes an indifferent ruler to moral considerations with determination to achieve and to maintain power.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, a philosopher, musician, and poet, wrote plays. He figured centrally in component of the Renaissance, and people most widely know his realist treatises on the one hand and republicanism of Discourses on Livy .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 24, 2022
The book was unique regarding the subject. A psychology and a classic book bending into this guide to ultimate power in society. I would love to read more by him.
June 18, 2018
First off. The book itself was pretty good. You do have to keep in mind that Machiavelli was partially "Machiavellian" in the writing of this book itself because some of the notes point out that he was parroting the political views of certain individuals for certain purposes. And in these days, when writing was the primary way to make a political or religious statement, you just have to expect that it's part and parcel of the writing itself.
Some of the stuff in the back read more like a newspaper from the period rather than something lasting. Which, once again, made sense for the era and the topic, but made for some confusing reading. So the front half was amazing, and the back half was good but not great.
The front half was great. I loved seeing Machiavelli's views on holding political power, and what that meant in these days. The talk of war. Of things like mercenaries and forts, and how to keep your people happy but not too happy. It's really good and gave me a lot of ideas for writing, which is why I read it.
The star I took off is almost entirely for the format. This format was free, but it almost wasn't worth it. There were pictures included. But they were tiny and grainy and stylized in this weird way (so sort of filter or something) that you couldn't even tell what they were most of the time. When you could tell they were irrelevant like Christmas gifts or a girl on a bridge or something.
The book was formatted so that the notes didn't show up on the bottom or even at the end of a chapter, but they were right in the middle of the text. Which means that you would get random blocks of notes from the translator, but wouldn't be able to even tell what the notes were on, and it would just make you lose your place. I honestly feel like this was some sort of scam that they gave up on? Or something like that.
There obviously wasn't effort put into it.
If you are going to read this, put in the money and pick up a copy that is formatted correctly. Reading this was a headache.
Some of the stuff in the back read more like a newspaper from the period rather than something lasting. Which, once again, made sense for the era and the topic, but made for some confusing reading. So the front half was amazing, and the back half was good but not great.
The front half was great. I loved seeing Machiavelli's views on holding political power, and what that meant in these days. The talk of war. Of things like mercenaries and forts, and how to keep your people happy but not too happy. It's really good and gave me a lot of ideas for writing, which is why I read it.
The star I took off is almost entirely for the format. This format was free, but it almost wasn't worth it. There were pictures included. But they were tiny and grainy and stylized in this weird way (so sort of filter or something) that you couldn't even tell what they were most of the time. When you could tell they were irrelevant like Christmas gifts or a girl on a bridge or something.
The book was formatted so that the notes didn't show up on the bottom or even at the end of a chapter, but they were right in the middle of the text. Which means that you would get random blocks of notes from the translator, but wouldn't be able to even tell what the notes were on, and it would just make you lose your place. I honestly feel like this was some sort of scam that they gave up on? Or something like that.
There obviously wasn't effort put into it.
If you are going to read this, put in the money and pick up a copy that is formatted correctly. Reading this was a headache.
July 24, 2023
,,Cel uświęca środki" to chyba najbardziej trafne hasło opisujące sens całej tej książki. Autor znany z całego nurtu makiawelizmu opisujący jak władca powinien zarządzać państwem, co robić a czego się wystrzegać. Mówi on wprost że lepiej być władcą wzbudzającym strach niż nadmierną sympatię. Tak samo sprawę pozostawia jasno co do poddanych oraz arystokracji albo traktujesz ich dobrze albo ich zabijasz.
Fun fact samą książkę czasem w empikach można znaleźć w kategorii ,,samorozwój" coś w tym rodzaju, nie powiem dawno tak bardzo żadna książka mnie nie rozwinęła jak ta.
Fun fact samą książkę czasem w empikach można znaleźć w kategorii ,,samorozwój" coś w tym rodzaju, nie powiem dawno tak bardzo żadna książka mnie nie rozwinęła jak ta.
July 6, 2022
Inspired by Cicero's De Officiis, this book adopts more realistic approach to politics and power than an idealistic. While adopting some insights of Cicero, Machiavelli debates some of his impractical ideas as well citing examples from the history. As he says:
"Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires."
"Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2021
Ideal for intense Dungeons and Dragons games.
June 18, 2024
so good, I just love the way he described the situations, love his writing so much!
October 12, 2024
The crucial point in Niccolo Machiavelli's influential work on realpolitik in governance and foreign policy is often misunderstood. Machiavelli wasn't advocating for immorality and cruelty over morality and goodness. Instead, he argued that effective governance requires making decisions based on the current situation rather than being clouded by moral considerations. This was illustrated through historical examples and reasoned analysis in his classic work.
However, Machiavelli, in his famous use of justifying ends by means, supports the rightness of his position by citing numerous examples of "princes" who, in acting "just and proper" towards their neighbors and subjects, led their people into bondage and slaughter at the hands of those who were less virtuous. Should such murdered and subjugated populations thank the princes for their unwavering morality? Machiavelli says no. He argues that the Prince's top priority is to safeguard his holdings and maintain stability within his borders. Allowing other considerations to affect such judgments will only provide an advantage to third parties exploiting it. In the end, Machiavelli argues that fewer lives will be lost and less suffering will be incurred if the Prince can govern effectively.
Not necessarily warm and fuzzy Sesame Street thinking, but there is some serious power to the reasoning. I wish we lived in a world in which that was not the case. I wish Machiavelli's insights were not needed and that we lived in a world where loftier morals could carry the day. However, until we do, Machiavelli's words provide much truth and food for thought.
PLOT SYNOPSIS
Machiavelli wrote The Prince for Lorenzo de' Medici, whose family ruled Florence at the time, as essentially a job application. He wanted to gain favor with the de' Medici family and secure a position at their court. The book, although a bit disjointed, can be divided into 3 or 4 sections, with the last section serving as a concluding "call to arms" to the Italian people, emphasizing the need for a wise prince to lead them back to the greatness of the Roman Empire.
Discounting the rah-rah speech at the end, the other three sections deal with (1) the types of principalities and how they are acquired; (2) the proper organization of the military and the best kind of soldier to comprise it; and (3) the internal makeup of a prince's court (i.e., associates and subordinates).
Section 1 is interesting and fun to read, but it is only valuable from a historical perspective. Machiavelli discusses territories acquired through conquest, inheritance, or luck and describes the different characteristics of each. While it may not be "awe-inspiring" in its insight, the narrative itself is captivating and Machiavelli's "voice" is engaging.
Section 2 can be summarized as follows: Mercenaries well and truly SUCK and should not be used under any circumstances because their suckage will end up squandering your resources and giving squat in return. Therefore, the wise Prince keeps a standing army sufficient to protect the country's interests.
Section 3 is the most important part of the work and contains most of the advice that earned Niccolo his well-deserved reputation for suggesting the appropriateness of abandoning morality in governance. He discusses the need for the Prince to be capable of deceiving and acting against the "five" virtues of the righteous man when necessary for the improvement of his state and his people.
A prince does not necessarily need to possess all the good qualities I have mentioned, but it is crucial to give the appearance of having them. I will go even further and say that it is harmful to always possess these qualities and beneficial to only appear to have them. It is advantageous to seem merciful, faithful, humane, religious, and upright, while also being able to adapt and change if the situation requires it.
The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
Machiavelli discusses numerous examples of sovereigns who either benefitted from following such advice or, conversely, who suffered calamity for adhering to a sense of virtue.
THOUGHTS
Ground-breaking and brilliantly insightful, especially for its time. So much of what Machiavelli says is now an ingrained part of political thinking that it comes across as DUH when you read it. However, it was Niccolo who first put forth these concepts that have become the dogma and foundation of modern political thought. He put the "real" in realpolitik. I don't think the contribution he made to political theory can be overstated. It was The Prince who called out the distinction between what men "say" and what they "do." He did not invent political immorality, but he did recognize it as an effective, and at times crucial, aspect of rule. Something the famous rulers of history have always known…and practiced.
In addition, I was surprised at how much fun the book was to read. Machiavelli includes dozens and dozens of brief vignettes about world history to support his ideas and does a great job of keeping the reader engaged with colorful descriptions of past events. The book is also chock-full of wonderful quotes that just jumped out at me as I was reading. Here are a few that I thought were intriguing:
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all…People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge, but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance."
In addition to post-revolutionary purges and new government administrations, the above has also become a truism for business and is why corporations do "massive layoffs" rather than a series of smaller-scale terminations. Gee, thanks, Niccolo.
"My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared, but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved." Ah...just like the Godfather.
Oh…and lest the above not make it clear, for all his amazing contributions to world history we should not lose sight of the fact that Machiavelli, for all his astuteness, was a bit of an asshole. While his work is engaging and wonderful reading and I give him full marks for "calling it like it is," he is still not the kind of guy you want educating your children or providing life lessons. I admire his work, but the man comes across as quite a scummy, conniving douche.
This is no Little Prince, that's for sure. You must kill the fox, burn the rose, murder the businessman, if any of them tries to take control over your princedom. There's no time to be nice! There's only time to seem to be nice. At the end of the day, it is better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both. Nevertheless, keep in mind chapter 23.
The Prince was written in the 16th century and a couple of its ideas are too contemporary. It is a major treatise that influenced several political leaders throughout history. Machiavelli is widely regarded as the father of modern politics because he took away any trace of theology and morality from his works. (That is something no one has ever said before.) I should have read it long ago, but everything has its time, I suppose.
So, there are a lot of concepts that should just stay in the book and a few that you may apply to everyday circumstances. It delivers what you are waiting for if you want to know how to have and keep power to yourself, no matter the head you are crushing, and all that using fairly straightforward language. It is a short book and easy to understand, even though the notion of achieving glory, power, and survival, regardless of how immoral you have to be... it is not difficult to comprehend; that we get.
Cruelty, wickedness, immorality; all those things needed to achieve greatness, all of them printed long ago in the form of a little book, just like that... From a twisted point of view, sometimes, it is almost a bit funny.
It was an excellent read.
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you. (137)
6.0 Stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
However, Machiavelli, in his famous use of justifying ends by means, supports the rightness of his position by citing numerous examples of "princes" who, in acting "just and proper" towards their neighbors and subjects, led their people into bondage and slaughter at the hands of those who were less virtuous. Should such murdered and subjugated populations thank the princes for their unwavering morality? Machiavelli says no. He argues that the Prince's top priority is to safeguard his holdings and maintain stability within his borders. Allowing other considerations to affect such judgments will only provide an advantage to third parties exploiting it. In the end, Machiavelli argues that fewer lives will be lost and less suffering will be incurred if the Prince can govern effectively.
Not necessarily warm and fuzzy Sesame Street thinking, but there is some serious power to the reasoning. I wish we lived in a world in which that was not the case. I wish Machiavelli's insights were not needed and that we lived in a world where loftier morals could carry the day. However, until we do, Machiavelli's words provide much truth and food for thought.
PLOT SYNOPSIS
Machiavelli wrote The Prince for Lorenzo de' Medici, whose family ruled Florence at the time, as essentially a job application. He wanted to gain favor with the de' Medici family and secure a position at their court. The book, although a bit disjointed, can be divided into 3 or 4 sections, with the last section serving as a concluding "call to arms" to the Italian people, emphasizing the need for a wise prince to lead them back to the greatness of the Roman Empire.
Discounting the rah-rah speech at the end, the other three sections deal with (1) the types of principalities and how they are acquired; (2) the proper organization of the military and the best kind of soldier to comprise it; and (3) the internal makeup of a prince's court (i.e., associates and subordinates).
Section 1 is interesting and fun to read, but it is only valuable from a historical perspective. Machiavelli discusses territories acquired through conquest, inheritance, or luck and describes the different characteristics of each. While it may not be "awe-inspiring" in its insight, the narrative itself is captivating and Machiavelli's "voice" is engaging.
Section 2 can be summarized as follows: Mercenaries well and truly SUCK and should not be used under any circumstances because their suckage will end up squandering your resources and giving squat in return. Therefore, the wise Prince keeps a standing army sufficient to protect the country's interests.
Section 3 is the most important part of the work and contains most of the advice that earned Niccolo his well-deserved reputation for suggesting the appropriateness of abandoning morality in governance. He discusses the need for the Prince to be capable of deceiving and acting against the "five" virtues of the righteous man when necessary for the improvement of his state and his people.
A prince does not necessarily need to possess all the good qualities I have mentioned, but it is crucial to give the appearance of having them. I will go even further and say that it is harmful to always possess these qualities and beneficial to only appear to have them. It is advantageous to seem merciful, faithful, humane, religious, and upright, while also being able to adapt and change if the situation requires it.
The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
Machiavelli discusses numerous examples of sovereigns who either benefitted from following such advice or, conversely, who suffered calamity for adhering to a sense of virtue.
THOUGHTS
Ground-breaking and brilliantly insightful, especially for its time. So much of what Machiavelli says is now an ingrained part of political thinking that it comes across as DUH when you read it. However, it was Niccolo who first put forth these concepts that have become the dogma and foundation of modern political thought. He put the "real" in realpolitik. I don't think the contribution he made to political theory can be overstated. It was The Prince who called out the distinction between what men "say" and what they "do." He did not invent political immorality, but he did recognize it as an effective, and at times crucial, aspect of rule. Something the famous rulers of history have always known…and practiced.
In addition, I was surprised at how much fun the book was to read. Machiavelli includes dozens and dozens of brief vignettes about world history to support his ideas and does a great job of keeping the reader engaged with colorful descriptions of past events. The book is also chock-full of wonderful quotes that just jumped out at me as I was reading. Here are a few that I thought were intriguing:
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all…People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge, but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance."
In addition to post-revolutionary purges and new government administrations, the above has also become a truism for business and is why corporations do "massive layoffs" rather than a series of smaller-scale terminations. Gee, thanks, Niccolo.
"My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared, but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved." Ah...just like the Godfather.
Oh…and lest the above not make it clear, for all his amazing contributions to world history we should not lose sight of the fact that Machiavelli, for all his astuteness, was a bit of an asshole. While his work is engaging and wonderful reading and I give him full marks for "calling it like it is," he is still not the kind of guy you want educating your children or providing life lessons. I admire his work, but the man comes across as quite a scummy, conniving douche.
This is no Little Prince, that's for sure. You must kill the fox, burn the rose, murder the businessman, if any of them tries to take control over your princedom. There's no time to be nice! There's only time to seem to be nice. At the end of the day, it is better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both. Nevertheless, keep in mind chapter 23.
The Prince was written in the 16th century and a couple of its ideas are too contemporary. It is a major treatise that influenced several political leaders throughout history. Machiavelli is widely regarded as the father of modern politics because he took away any trace of theology and morality from his works. (That is something no one has ever said before.) I should have read it long ago, but everything has its time, I suppose.
So, there are a lot of concepts that should just stay in the book and a few that you may apply to everyday circumstances. It delivers what you are waiting for if you want to know how to have and keep power to yourself, no matter the head you are crushing, and all that using fairly straightforward language. It is a short book and easy to understand, even though the notion of achieving glory, power, and survival, regardless of how immoral you have to be... it is not difficult to comprehend; that we get.
Cruelty, wickedness, immorality; all those things needed to achieve greatness, all of them printed long ago in the form of a little book, just like that... From a twisted point of view, sometimes, it is almost a bit funny.
It was an excellent read.
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you. (137)
6.0 Stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
February 6, 2026
very apt for our current political and socio-economic state.
August 11, 2021
Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.
Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
A 16th-century Italian diplomat and political philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli thought about writing detailed political advice, dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, who then governed Florence. Machiavelli was striving to hop back into politics and this was his way to attain a place in Medici's court. Although life didn't grant him that wish, something utterly unexpected happened. The Prince ended up becoming one of the first and finest works in contemporary political philosophy, shaping the diplomatic history of the next four hundred years and still counting. Machiavelli tossed the idea of 'abstract moral good' out of the window and focused on 'effectual truth' to achieve, retain and secure the reigns of the kingdom.
The book has twenty-six (26) chapters that can be divided into four sections. Chapters 1-11 explains the various kinds of principalities or states, Chapters 12-14 characterizes the several types of armies and proper conduct of a prince to prevail as a powerful military leader. Chapters 15-23 discuss the character and behaviour of the prince, and Chapters 24-26 examine the miserable political crisis in the state of Italy. The final chapter is a plea for the Medici family to supply the prince who will lead Italy out of humiliation.
Contrary to Plato's 'Republic' and Saint Augustine's 'City of God', The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli focuses on tangible realities of how a state operates rather than a utopian idea of what a state can potentially be. According to him, Humans are fundamentally selfish, greedy and insensitive to the societal good and they will always choose their self-interest over that of a Prince's or a ruler. So a prince should always watch his back and should never utterly rely on his people because they wouldn't think twice before turning on him. He also shared the popular idea that it's better and safer for a Prince to be feared than loved. In the 17th Chapter concerning the subject, Machiavelli argues that although one would desire to have both but it's quite difficult to combine both in one person. He states that
“Upon this, a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? … because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved ” One of the most popular or rather infamous quotations from The Prince.
But at the same time, Machiavelli insists that a Prince must not let himself be hated by his people, even over the goodwill of aristocrats, he should prefer the support of his people as they being truly large in number will overpower the prince in no time. The prince should try to act virtuously in all circumstances with compassion and empathy but should have an ulterior motive for the state as acting virtuously for the sake of being virtuous can prove detrimental for the regime. Niccolò Machiavelli also notes that cruelty and ruthlessness should not be avoided if they help retain the kingdom but these offences must not be pursued for personal sake.
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli has been remained controversial throughout history for endorsing an 'ends justifies the means approach. Catholic Church even placed it in the papal index of banned books in 1559 while Nicolo Machiavelli was condemned on the Elizabethan stages of London as the “Evil Machiavel.” Even today, Machiavellian’ or ‘Machiavellianism’ are terms coined by the wider public to describe anyone who is deceitful and cunning. On the other hand, several modern thinkers have argued that Machiavelli's work is needed to be perceived in the context of 15th and 16th Century Italy. Maurizio Viroli, Corrado Vivanti and Alan Ryan state that amid the decline of the Florentine Republic and knotted politics in Italy, it was a rather patriotic plea to a prince to rise and return Italy to its glory while Philip Bobbitt regards Machiavelli as the great theorist and first thinker who recognized that if the power had to be moralized, in a new public ethic based on region di stato—reason of state.
Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
A 16th-century Italian diplomat and political philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli thought about writing detailed political advice, dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, who then governed Florence. Machiavelli was striving to hop back into politics and this was his way to attain a place in Medici's court. Although life didn't grant him that wish, something utterly unexpected happened. The Prince ended up becoming one of the first and finest works in contemporary political philosophy, shaping the diplomatic history of the next four hundred years and still counting. Machiavelli tossed the idea of 'abstract moral good' out of the window and focused on 'effectual truth' to achieve, retain and secure the reigns of the kingdom.
The book has twenty-six (26) chapters that can be divided into four sections. Chapters 1-11 explains the various kinds of principalities or states, Chapters 12-14 characterizes the several types of armies and proper conduct of a prince to prevail as a powerful military leader. Chapters 15-23 discuss the character and behaviour of the prince, and Chapters 24-26 examine the miserable political crisis in the state of Italy. The final chapter is a plea for the Medici family to supply the prince who will lead Italy out of humiliation.
Contrary to Plato's 'Republic' and Saint Augustine's 'City of God', The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli focuses on tangible realities of how a state operates rather than a utopian idea of what a state can potentially be. According to him, Humans are fundamentally selfish, greedy and insensitive to the societal good and they will always choose their self-interest over that of a Prince's or a ruler. So a prince should always watch his back and should never utterly rely on his people because they wouldn't think twice before turning on him. He also shared the popular idea that it's better and safer for a Prince to be feared than loved. In the 17th Chapter concerning the subject, Machiavelli argues that although one would desire to have both but it's quite difficult to combine both in one person. He states that
“Upon this, a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? … because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved ” One of the most popular or rather infamous quotations from The Prince.
But at the same time, Machiavelli insists that a Prince must not let himself be hated by his people, even over the goodwill of aristocrats, he should prefer the support of his people as they being truly large in number will overpower the prince in no time. The prince should try to act virtuously in all circumstances with compassion and empathy but should have an ulterior motive for the state as acting virtuously for the sake of being virtuous can prove detrimental for the regime. Niccolò Machiavelli also notes that cruelty and ruthlessness should not be avoided if they help retain the kingdom but these offences must not be pursued for personal sake.
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli has been remained controversial throughout history for endorsing an 'ends justifies the means approach. Catholic Church even placed it in the papal index of banned books in 1559 while Nicolo Machiavelli was condemned on the Elizabethan stages of London as the “Evil Machiavel.” Even today, Machiavellian’ or ‘Machiavellianism’ are terms coined by the wider public to describe anyone who is deceitful and cunning. On the other hand, several modern thinkers have argued that Machiavelli's work is needed to be perceived in the context of 15th and 16th Century Italy. Maurizio Viroli, Corrado Vivanti and Alan Ryan state that amid the decline of the Florentine Republic and knotted politics in Italy, it was a rather patriotic plea to a prince to rise and return Italy to its glory while Philip Bobbitt regards Machiavelli as the great theorist and first thinker who recognized that if the power had to be moralized, in a new public ethic based on region di stato—reason of state.
October 9, 2023
“The prince” হচ্ছে নিকলো মেকিয়াভেলির লেখা একটি পলিটিক্যাল বই। এটি লেখা হয় ১৫১৩ খ্রিস্টাব্দে। এই বইটিকে আমার কাছে মনে হয়, একজন শাসকের সিক্রেট ম্যানুয়াল, যার মাধ্যমে একজন শাসক শিখবে কীভাবে power gain করা যায় এবং সেই power কীভাবে ধরে রাখা যায় এবং force and fear দিয়ে কীভাবে একটি সুগঠিত রাষ্ট্র গঠন করা যায়।
মুলত, ম্যাকিয়াভেলি যখন এই বই লিখেছে তখন ইটালির ভেনিস, রোম, ফ্লরেন্স, নেপল, মিলান ইত্যাদি রাজ্যগুলো ছিল স্বাধীন। এর আলাদা আলাদা শাসকও ছিল। এই রাজ্যগুলো একে ওপরের সাথে যুদ্ধে লিপ্ত হয়ে কঠোর নৈরাজ্যের সৃষ্টি করতো। সাথে যখন তখন ফ্রান্সও ইটালির বিভিন্ন জায়গা দখল নেয়ার উদ্দেশ্যে যুদ্ধ ঘোষণা করতো। সেই সময় এমন একজন রাজপুত্রের দরকার ছিল যে ইটালিকে একত্রিত করতে সক্ষম এবং কার্যকরভাবে বিদেশী প্রভাব প্রতিহত করতে সক্ষম। আর এই কারণেই ম্যাকিয়াভেলি এই বই একজন প্রিন্সের গাইডলাইন হিসেবে রচনা করেন।
ম্যাকিয়াভেলি মনে করেন একজন রাজপুত্রের প্রজ্ঞাবান , কৌশলি , শক্তিমান, বীর এবং প্রয়োজনে নির্মম হওয়া উচিত। ম্যাকিয়াভেলি খুবই ইন্টারেস্টিং প্যারাডক্সিক্যাল শব্দগুচ্ছ ব্যবহার করেছনে তার বইয়ে, সেটি হচ্ছে “ criminal virtue”।অর্থাৎ প্রিন্সের ক্রিমিনাল ভারচু থাকতে হবে। প্রিন্সের নিষ্ঠুর হওয়ার প্রয়োজনীয় ক্ষমতা বর্ণনা করতে গিয়েই তিনি এই ফ্রেইজ ব্যবহার করেছনে। তিনি মনে করেন যেকোনো সহিংসতা অবশ্যই রাষ্ট্রের নিরাপত্তার জন্য কঠোরভাবে আবশ্যক।
এই বইয়ে উল্লেখ আছে কি কি চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখে একজন প্রিন্স পড়তে পারে এবং সেই চ্যালেঞ্জগুলো সে কীভাবে সফল ভাবে সমাধান করে ক্ষমতায় বহাল থাকতে পারবে। এইগুলো ব্যখা করতে গিয়ে সে একজন পাওয়ারফুল প্রিন্সের উদাহরণ দিয়েছেন তার বইতে যার নাম চেজেরো বর্জিয়া। চেজেরো তার একজন নিষ্ঠুর জেনারেলকে পাঠায় অন্য একটি প্রভিন্সে কন্ট্রোল নিয়ে আসার জন্য তার নাম রেমিরো ডি অর্ক। চেজেরোর কথা মত রেমিরো সেই প্রভিন্সে নাগরিকদের উপর নিষ্ঠুর অত্যাচার করে সেখানে কনট্রোল নিয়ে আসে।
কিন্তু রেমিরো তার টাস্ক কমপ্লিট করার পরেও চেজেরো তাকে মেরে ফেললো এবং পিস পিস করে কেটে শহরে ঝুলিয়ে রাখলো। চেজেরো রেমিরোকে দিয়ে dirty job করালো ঠিকি কিন্তু তার নাগরিকদের দেখালো যে চেজেরো তার জেনারেল রেমিরোকে মেরেছে, কারণ সে তার নাগরিকদের উপর নিষ্ঠুর হয়েছে বলে। এভাবেই সে প্রমাণ করলো যে তার জেনারেল যে নিষ্ঠুর কাজটি করেছে তার জনগণের সাথে তারই শাস্তি স্বরূপ তাকে মেরে ফেলা হয়েছে। সমভাবে চেজেরো তার ক্ষমতাও দেখালো জনগণকে রেমিরকে কঠোর শাস্তি দিয়ে। ম্যাকিয়াভেলি তার এই বইয়ে প্রিন্সকে চেজেরোর মত শাসক হওয়ার নির্দেশ দেন । সে তার বইয়ে বলেন যে একজন শাসক নাগরিকদের ভালোবাসা অর্জন করে নয় বরং সহিংসতা দিয়ে একটি কার্যকরী রাষ্ট্র গঠন করতে পারে। ম্যাকিয়াভেলি নিশ্চয়ই আধুনিক যুগের গান্ধির অহিংস মতবাদকে নয় বরং নেতাজী সুভাস চন্দ্র বসুর সহিংস মতবাদকেই স্বাগত জানাবে।
ম্যাকিয়াভেলি এটাও বলেছে তার বইয়ে যে ক্রুয়েল্টি বার বার কাজে দেবে না। এর কারণ হচ্ছে বার বার ক্রুয়েল হলে মানুষের ভয় ভেঙ্গে যাবে এবং মানুষের ভয় যখন ভেঙ্গে যাবে তখন মানুষ অর্থাৎ জনগণ দ্বিগুণ ভয়ংকর হয়ে শাসকের শেকড় উপড়ে ফেলবে।
ম্যাকিয়াভেলি দাবী করে যে একজন প্রিন্স দুর্ভাগ্যের কারণে নয়, বরং তার নিজস্ব নিষ্ক্রিয়তা এবং সিদ্ধান্তহীনতার কারণে তাদের ক্ষমতা হারায় । অর্থাৎ তিনি সঠিক সময়ে সঠিক সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়াকে অনেকটাই গুরুত্ব দিয়েছেন ভাগ্যের চেয়েও।
যুগ যুগ আগে প্লেটো কিংবা এরিস্টটল দ্বারা যে মূল্যবোধের শিক্ষার কথা বলা হয়েছে, কিংবা আমরা যে ছোট বেলায় আদর্শ লিপিতে পড়েছি “ সকালে উঠিয়া আমি মনে মনে বলি, সারাদিন আমি যেন ভালো হয়ে চলি” – এসব বুলি আদতে বইয়েই শোভা পায়, এগুলো প্রাক্টিক্যাল লাইভে কার্যকরী নয় কিংবা সম্ভবও নয়- এরকম একটি ইঙ্গিতই পাওয়া যায় ম্যাকিয়াভ্যালির The Prince বইয়ে। এই বইটির মুল ভাব হচ্ছে- কথায়, চলায় এবং বলায় মূল্যবোধের শিক্ষাটুকুই ঝাড়বে জনগণের কাছে তার নেতা, কিন্তু তার একশন অর্থাৎ কাজ হবে সম্পূর্ণ বিপরীত যদি সে ক্ষমতায় থাকতে চায়।
এই বইটি ছিল একসময় নিষিদ্ধ একটি বই এর অসাধু কুট কৌশলের কারণে । কিন্তু বর্তমান কালে এই বইটি অপরিহার্য বই হয়ে পড়েছে রাজনৈতিক পরিমণ্ডলে। এছাড়া বর্তমান যুগে ম্যাকিয়াভেলির দর্শনকে বিশ্লেষণ করে এর অনেক পজেটিভ দিকও আছে ক্ষেত্র বিশেষে—এরকমটাও অনেকে মনে করেন।
মুলত, ম্যাকিয়াভেলি যখন এই বই লিখেছে তখন ইটালির ভেনিস, রোম, ফ্লরেন্স, নেপল, মিলান ইত্যাদি রাজ্যগুলো ছিল স্বাধীন। এর আলাদা আলাদা শাসকও ছিল। এই রাজ্যগুলো একে ওপরের সাথে যুদ্ধে লিপ্ত হয়ে কঠোর নৈরাজ্যের সৃষ্টি করতো। সাথে যখন তখন ফ্রান্সও ইটালির বিভিন্ন জায়গা দখল নেয়ার উদ্দেশ্যে যুদ্ধ ঘোষণা করতো। সেই সময় এমন একজন রাজপুত্রের দরকার ছিল যে ইটালিকে একত্রিত করতে সক্ষম এবং কার্যকরভাবে বিদেশী প্রভাব প্রতিহত করতে সক্ষম। আর এই কারণেই ম্যাকিয়াভেলি এই বই একজন প্রিন্সের গাইডলাইন হিসেবে রচনা করেন।
ম্যাকিয়াভেলি মনে করেন একজন রাজপুত্রের প্রজ্ঞাবান , কৌশলি , শক্তিমান, বীর এবং প্রয়োজনে নির্মম হওয়া উচিত। ম্যাকিয়াভেলি খুবই ইন্টারেস্টিং প্যারাডক্সিক্যাল শব্দগুচ্ছ ব্যবহার করেছনে তার বইয়ে, সেটি হচ্ছে “ criminal virtue”।অর্থাৎ প্রিন্সের ক্রিমিনাল ভারচু থাকতে হবে। প্রিন্সের নিষ্ঠুর হওয়ার প্রয়োজনীয় ক্ষমতা বর্ণনা করতে গিয়েই তিনি এই ফ্রেইজ ব্যবহার করেছনে। তিনি মনে করেন যেকোনো সহিংসতা অবশ্যই রাষ্ট্রের নিরাপত্তার জন্য কঠোরভাবে আবশ্যক।
এই বইয়ে উল্লেখ আছে কি কি চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখে একজন প্রিন্স পড়তে পারে এবং সেই চ্যালেঞ্জগুলো সে কীভাবে সফল ভাবে সমাধান করে ক্ষমতায় বহাল থাকতে পারবে। এইগুলো ব্যখা করতে গিয়ে সে একজন পাওয়ারফুল প্রিন্সের উদাহরণ দিয়েছেন তার বইতে যার নাম চেজেরো বর্জিয়া। চেজেরো তার একজন নিষ্ঠুর জেনারেলকে পাঠায় অন্য একটি প্রভিন্সে কন্ট্রোল নিয়ে আসার জন্য তার নাম রেমিরো ডি অর্ক। চেজেরোর কথা মত রেমিরো সেই প্রভিন্সে নাগরিকদের উপর নিষ্ঠুর অত্যাচার করে সেখানে কনট্রোল নিয়ে আসে।
কিন্তু রেমিরো তার টাস্ক কমপ্লিট করার পরেও চেজেরো তাকে মেরে ফেললো এবং পিস পিস করে কেটে শহরে ঝুলিয়ে রাখলো। চেজেরো রেমিরোকে দিয়ে dirty job করালো ঠিকি কিন্তু তার নাগরিকদের দেখালো যে চেজেরো তার জেনারেল রেমিরোকে মেরেছে, কারণ সে তার নাগরিকদের উপর নিষ্ঠুর হয়েছে বলে। এভাবেই সে প্রমাণ করলো যে তার জেনারেল যে নিষ্ঠুর কাজটি করেছে তার জনগণের সাথে তারই শাস্তি স্বরূপ তাকে মেরে ফেলা হয়েছে। সমভাবে চেজেরো তার ক্ষমতাও দেখালো জনগণকে রেমিরকে কঠোর শাস্তি দিয়ে। ম্যাকিয়াভেলি তার এই বইয়ে প্রিন্সকে চেজেরোর মত শাসক হওয়ার নির্দেশ দেন । সে তার বইয়ে বলেন যে একজন শাসক নাগরিকদের ভালোবাসা অর্জন করে নয় বরং সহিংসতা দিয়ে একটি কার্যকরী রাষ্ট্র গঠন করতে পারে। ম্যাকিয়াভেলি নিশ্চয়ই আধুনিক যুগের গান্ধির অহিংস মতবাদকে নয় বরং নেতাজী সুভাস চন্দ্র বসুর সহিংস মতবাদকেই স্বাগত জানাবে।
ম্যাকিয়াভেলি এটাও বলেছে তার বইয়ে যে ক্রুয়েল্টি বার বার কাজে দেবে না। এর কারণ হচ্ছে বার বার ক্রুয়েল হলে মানুষের ভয় ভেঙ্গে যাবে এবং মানুষের ভয় যখন ভেঙ্গে যাবে তখন মানুষ অর্থাৎ জনগণ দ্বিগুণ ভয়ংকর হয়ে শাসকের শেকড় উপড়ে ফেলবে।
ম্যাকিয়াভেলি দাবী করে যে একজন প্রিন্স দুর্ভাগ্যের কারণে নয়, বরং তার নিজস্ব নিষ্ক্রিয়তা এবং সিদ্ধান্তহীনতার কারণে তাদের ক্ষমতা হারায় । অর্থাৎ তিনি সঠিক সময়ে সঠিক সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়াকে অনেকটাই গুরুত্ব দিয়েছেন ভাগ্যের চেয়েও।
যুগ যুগ আগে প্লেটো কিংবা এরিস্টটল দ্বারা যে মূল্যবোধের শিক্ষার কথা বলা হয়েছে, কিংবা আমরা যে ছোট বেলায় আদর্শ লিপিতে পড়েছি “ সকালে উঠিয়া আমি মনে মনে বলি, সারাদিন আমি যেন ভালো হয়ে চলি” – এসব বুলি আদতে বইয়েই শোভা পায়, এগুলো প্রাক্টিক্যাল লাইভে কার্যকরী নয় কিংবা সম্ভবও নয়- এরকম একটি ইঙ্গিতই পাওয়া যায় ম্যাকিয়াভ্যালির The Prince বইয়ে। এই বইটির মুল ভাব হচ্ছে- কথায়, চলায় এবং বলায় মূল্যবোধের শিক্ষাটুকুই ঝাড়বে জনগণের কাছে তার নেতা, কিন্তু তার একশন অর্থাৎ কাজ হবে সম্পূর্ণ বিপরীত যদি সে ক্ষমতায় থাকতে চায়।
এই বইটি ছিল একসময় নিষিদ্ধ একটি বই এর অসাধু কুট কৌশলের কারণে । কিন্তু বর্তমান কালে এই বইটি অপরিহার্য বই হয়ে পড়েছে রাজনৈতিক পরিমণ্ডলে। এছাড়া বর্তমান যুগে ম্যাকিয়াভেলির দর্শনকে বিশ্লেষণ করে এর অনেক পজেটিভ দিকও আছে ক্ষেত্র বিশেষে—এরকমটাও অনেকে মনে করেন।
December 30, 2025
Quote from the book that sets the tone:
"Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked."
"Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked."
December 30, 2025
Edgy me was obsessed with it, still love it
February 8, 2026
A timeless and brutally honest exploration of power, leadership, and human nature. Provocative, concise, and surprisingly modern, it challenges how we think about authority and success
December 14, 2025
This book really comes with its unique type of reading experience. The number of times I had to research some random people the book was referencing was annoying, and it took me a while to finish it because of this. I also felt like it was very repetitive in some places, but overall I would say it was enjoyable.
I had lots of fun reading it. I would like to think everyone interested in history and politics would find this book fascinating. It was really worth it.
I had lots of fun reading it. I would like to think everyone interested in history and politics would find this book fascinating. It was really worth it.
February 5, 2025
wladanie od zawsze bylo skomplikowane. znamy historie wybitnych wodzow, dyplomatow, wladcow, ale sa tez te fatalne ktore zapisaly sie na kartach historii. kontrowersje wobec "ksiecia", trwaja od jego wydania. od chwili gdy ow "poradnik" trafil na liste ksiag zakazanych. gdy pomyslimy o machiavellim, przed oczami ukazuje nam sie sylwetka jakiegos demona czy tyrana. prawde mowiac sadze, ze wynika to z perspektywy patrzenia tylko na niektore rozdzialy, zamiast branie ksiazki jako calosc. machiavelli byl wyrachowany i kalkulowal wszystko na chlodno. wiele sie mowi o tym, ze ci ktorzy u wladzy czytali jego ksiazce byli najpodlejszymi tyraniami - trudno sie z tym nie zgodzic. jednak nie uwazam, zeby zastosowali sie w pelni do tego o czym pisze machiavelli. od razu myslac o ksieciu przychodzi nam do glowy maksyma: "cel uswieca srodki", ale juz mniej z nas wie, ze takie zdanie nigdy nie padlo ani w "ksieciu" ani innych dzielach machiavelliego. mnostwo razy jest wspomniane, ze jest przeciwniekiem okrucienstwa wobec ludu i oreduje to, aby ksiaze zaskarbil sobie jego sympatie. oczywiscie jest to owiane wlasna korzyscia dla wladcy. to grozna ksiazka, przeto bynajmniej nie, przez porady o tym jak zdusic doradcow, jak wybijac kazdego kto choćby hipotetycznie moglby nam zaszkodzic, byc bezlitosnym w swoich osadach. najgrozniejszy jest tu idealny obraz samego wladcy. otoz wedle machiavelliego wladca nie moze dac po sobie poznac niczego - wlasnych pobudek, pogladow, motywacji. przypomina mi sie "sztuka wojny" - Sun Zi, ktory mowil o tym, ze general ma byc jak woda, ktora zawsze potrafi sie dostosowac do ksztaltu naczynia. tutaj wszystko opiera sie na balansie. ta gra pozorow, bycie efemerycznym jest tu najniebezpieczniejsza i niepokojaca. niestety ten poradnik jest tak samo aktualny jak niegdys. mysle, ze moralnie kazdy odczuwa dyskomfort i chlod czytajac go. obiektywnie nie da sie ukryc, ze w wiekszosci przypadkow niccolo machiavelli mial racje. ku moim zmartwienia mysle, ze jego aktualnosc bedzie trwac.
December 10, 2017
Filled with a mixture of cynicism, absolutism, and arrogance, Machiavelli's writing is very interesting. It can jump from ideas such as "If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared." to "Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are."
This book reads very much like Sun Tzu's Art of War, but for politics instead of warfare. Machiavelli covers many aspects of not only ruling, but also on human nature. No matter the subject, one thing that remains consistent is his dismal view of life and ruling. I am almost brought to the notion that this book is meant as a satire due to just how cynical Machiavelli is. The only thing that makes me believe his ideas are legitimate is that Italian politics were rather crazy at the time of writing.
The ideas brought up in this book can be hard to understand as Machiavelli often gives examples of situations in 14th century Italy that require context to truly comprehend. But overall, the pervasive thought through the book is "obtain and keep rule by any means necessary, just make sure to not appear too cruel while doing it." He constantly talks about how man is weak and that exploitation, deceit, and cruelty are not only reasonable, but a necessity.
Despite this, Machiavelli does make some very good points about ruling that aren't necessarily cruel, but pragmatic, such as "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him". An interesting read if you want to see one of the most influential reads on modern political science (you can see some strategies laid out in here being used by countries, such as modern day China). However, take it with a grain of salt as Machiavelli writes these passages with a great deal of arrogance. He doesn't allow for the idea that he might be wrong in his beliefs.
This book reads very much like Sun Tzu's Art of War, but for politics instead of warfare. Machiavelli covers many aspects of not only ruling, but also on human nature. No matter the subject, one thing that remains consistent is his dismal view of life and ruling. I am almost brought to the notion that this book is meant as a satire due to just how cynical Machiavelli is. The only thing that makes me believe his ideas are legitimate is that Italian politics were rather crazy at the time of writing.
The ideas brought up in this book can be hard to understand as Machiavelli often gives examples of situations in 14th century Italy that require context to truly comprehend. But overall, the pervasive thought through the book is "obtain and keep rule by any means necessary, just make sure to not appear too cruel while doing it." He constantly talks about how man is weak and that exploitation, deceit, and cruelty are not only reasonable, but a necessity.
Despite this, Machiavelli does make some very good points about ruling that aren't necessarily cruel, but pragmatic, such as "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him". An interesting read if you want to see one of the most influential reads on modern political science (you can see some strategies laid out in here being used by countries, such as modern day China). However, take it with a grain of salt as Machiavelli writes these passages with a great deal of arrogance. He doesn't allow for the idea that he might be wrong in his beliefs.
December 11, 2025
The first half of the book was somewhat interesting, with solid insight into political philosophy and morals. However, it was not as gripping, eloquent, or universal as other similar works (Art of War for example). However, the life story of Castruccio I found absolutely fascinating. The first half of the book was payed off in this last half that showed his bravery and cunning. The quotes from Castruccio are as Machiavelli puts it, “Witty and weighty.”
Read
July 31, 2021Niccollò Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, philosopher, politician who lived during the Renaissance in Florence. His political ideas are associated with unscrupulous acts and treachery.
There are two common interpretations of this book; as a recount of historical leaders and their dubious acts, or as a handbook for rulers to retain power by any means. I am leaning toward the former, but I feel I am in the minority given Machiavellian, is now an adjective for cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics. The question is whether the concepts outlined have been subverted and misapplied contrary to the authors original intention or not..
Reading through the book there are parallels to modern political leaders however with less overt outcomes. I see the title somewhat ironic referring to 'Princes' rather than 'Kings' as if the title was meant to condescend and deride rather than esteem the Italian leaders of the time. The chapter I found most interesting was 'How princes should honour their word' as it explores the need for leaders to respond and changes their approaches given the relevant circumstances.
Recommended the politically inclined and fans of philosophical books.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
@fivequotebookchallenge
There are two common interpretations of this book; as a recount of historical leaders and their dubious acts, or as a handbook for rulers to retain power by any means. I am leaning toward the former, but I feel I am in the minority given Machiavellian, is now an adjective for cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics. The question is whether the concepts outlined have been subverted and misapplied contrary to the authors original intention or not..
Reading through the book there are parallels to modern political leaders however with less overt outcomes. I see the title somewhat ironic referring to 'Princes' rather than 'Kings' as if the title was meant to condescend and deride rather than esteem the Italian leaders of the time. The chapter I found most interesting was 'How princes should honour their word' as it explores the need for leaders to respond and changes their approaches given the relevant circumstances.
Recommended the politically inclined and fans of philosophical books.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
@fivequotebookchallenge
September 21, 2020
The book advocates few strategies a Prince (one who inherits or acquires by means of force or otherwise) should follow to acquire a new principality , how to hold it successfully once he gets there and more importantly ,how the success is defined. The subject matter is outdated of course ,but not the lessons . There are many precious gems that can be found through the pages of this book such as "He(a prince) who believes that new benefits will cause great personages to forget old injuries is deceived" or "If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared" .These may seem too cruel or deceptive at first glance (which in a way it is ) ,but if you want to reach the top of ladder , deception and politics come as the part of the package deal.
We may not have Princes or Principalities now ,but we have Presidents and CEOs ,managers and employees ,the ones who Rule and the ones who get ruled . This a pretty good handbook if you wish to be in the former section ,or at least recognise it when you are at the receiving end of it.
We may not have Princes or Principalities now ,but we have Presidents and CEOs ,managers and employees ,the ones who Rule and the ones who get ruled . This a pretty good handbook if you wish to be in the former section ,or at least recognise it when you are at the receiving end of it.
March 9, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Book:The Prince
Author:Nicolo Michiavelli
Written in the early 1500s, 'The Prince' is based on political philosophy.In this book Michiavelli focussed on the do's and don'ts for the Prince.According to Michiavelli,a prince must be strong and courageous.He should be quick in his action and his leadership should be powerful.All the immoral things should be done in quick stroke.Prince should have tremendous foresight.He needs to recognize problems and all the evils so that he could destroy them before.
There should be love and fear in people for the Prince.The one who is powerful or ambitious enough to lead a revolt should be supressed.Principality should always have a strong and powerful military.
Although politics is not my cup of tea I still read it, as this book is considered as one of the most discussed and scrutinized classic book.Its a must read for one who is interested in political philosophy.
Book:The Prince
Author:Nicolo Michiavelli
Written in the early 1500s, 'The Prince' is based on political philosophy.In this book Michiavelli focussed on the do's and don'ts for the Prince.According to Michiavelli,a prince must be strong and courageous.He should be quick in his action and his leadership should be powerful.All the immoral things should be done in quick stroke.Prince should have tremendous foresight.He needs to recognize problems and all the evils so that he could destroy them before.
There should be love and fear in people for the Prince.The one who is powerful or ambitious enough to lead a revolt should be supressed.Principality should always have a strong and powerful military.
Although politics is not my cup of tea I still read it, as this book is considered as one of the most discussed and scrutinized classic book.Its a must read for one who is interested in political philosophy.
June 27, 2017
His look takes away a bit of the seriousness. If you see Machiavelli in a court, you can't take him too seriously. And after he spoke, you can only take him so seriously. But it's a shame that he should be tortured and suffer imprisonment. If they accused him of consipiracy, he probably did- a lot of activities he suggested in The Prince are actually conspiracies or of similar nature, only it's not conspiracy in his eyes so he denied it. It's totally understandable.
I wonder why we read it, if not only for entertainment. Why is it that I feel like this still has any relevance? Why do we still defer to the medieval state of affairs? It's fascinating for sure, but the circumstances are so different now as to governance, I'm not sure how should I take it.
October 19, 2021
Just chose this edition for here, read a pdf
Brilliant read and is one of the classics of politics and administration. Sometimes it takes a lot of knowledge of the examples he uses, but he doubtlessly had that as knowledge, and so would the rulers he's writing to. For the 21st century reader those examples may be somewhat harder to remember, but to extract the lessons from there and from the general analysis. Would absolutely recommend this. Some more time bound things like the chapter on fortresses, but a lot of eternal truths there that transfer far beyond this context. For example the avoiding of flatterers and choosing advisors carefully, as well as the Prince's useful necessary evil or sticking to principles.
Brilliant read and is one of the classics of politics and administration. Sometimes it takes a lot of knowledge of the examples he uses, but he doubtlessly had that as knowledge, and so would the rulers he's writing to. For the 21st century reader those examples may be somewhat harder to remember, but to extract the lessons from there and from the general analysis. Would absolutely recommend this. Some more time bound things like the chapter on fortresses, but a lot of eternal truths there that transfer far beyond this context. For example the avoiding of flatterers and choosing advisors carefully, as well as the Prince's useful necessary evil or sticking to principles.
Want to read
July 5, 2020How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli The Prince (Italian: Il Principe) is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. The Prince is arguably the first works of modern political philosophy. Although it is relatively short, the treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works and responsible for bringing the word "Machiavellian" into usage as a pejorative. The base assumption in the treatise is that the aims of a prince -- such as glory and survival -- justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends.
April 11, 2022
One of the favourites I must say. Niccolo Machiavelli and his work are very controversial, ones in a heated argument they referred to my behaviour as Machiavellian which at the time I did not understand so when I found out who Machiavelli was I started reading Il principe.
I absolutely loved it, I get that it is controversial but if you put it in perspective it is written hundreds of years ago. It’s a very clear step by step guide a true text book with clear explanations. It can be a bit repetitive which is why i gave it 4 stars.
Very easy to get through even though it’s historic work it can still be translated in the modern world. Reminded me in some ways of “the art of war”
I absolutely loved it, I get that it is controversial but if you put it in perspective it is written hundreds of years ago. It’s a very clear step by step guide a true text book with clear explanations. It can be a bit repetitive which is why i gave it 4 stars.
Very easy to get through even though it’s historic work it can still be translated in the modern world. Reminded me in some ways of “the art of war”
March 26, 2021
‘’...fortune is a woman, and if you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill-use her; and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurous rather than by those who go to work more coldly. She is, therefore, always, woman-like, a lover of young men, because they are less cautious, more violent, and with more audacity command her.’’
Mmm....NO!!!
Despite sexist things here and there i let it go since the book is written in the 16th century, but no!!! This is too much! I can never recommend this!
Mmm....NO!!!
Despite sexist things here and there i let it go since the book is written in the 16th century, but no!!! This is too much! I can never recommend this!
July 22, 2021
I hesitated a long time before reading this book, thinking it would be a difficult read or that it would not resonate with me. Well... Machiavelli earned his place in our minds with a single work, “The Prince”: a shocking, rivetting and thought-provoking account of power politics in the Renaissance.
I couldn't be too wrong in saying that it's as fresh and relevant now as it was in the early 16th century.
Most conspicuous for his refusal to bow to either sentiment or idealism, this book outlines the practical reality of power.
I couldn't be too wrong in saying that it's as fresh and relevant now as it was in the early 16th century.
Most conspicuous for his refusal to bow to either sentiment or idealism, this book outlines the practical reality of power.
October 3, 2023
it is a horrible book to understand. it do not illustrate anything clearly. you may scratch you head to know what it wants to say. it is not a book but random political letters about Italian history. if you do not know then you must stay away. otherwise you will waste your time. to understand it you need multiple books for historical references and explanations of each chapter to understand political scenario of italy.
nicolo did not explain anything clearly. it seems a nightmare for readers
nicolo did not explain anything clearly. it seems a nightmare for readers
January 24, 2019
Old lessons for the modern survivor
I have seen quotes from this book all over the place and it has been a great read. It has lessons that are very applicable to modern leadership in the corporate world and I am looking out for a modern day translation. I recommend it for anyone aiming to understand the way the world works...
I have seen quotes from this book all over the place and it has been a great read. It has lessons that are very applicable to modern leadership in the corporate world and I am looking out for a modern day translation. I recommend it for anyone aiming to understand the way the world works...
February 16, 2022
In a world full of "Be nice, lead with charm, leaders eat last" advises, it was good for me to revert back to the law of jungle that Machiavelli represents in his book. I think that every leader should take one or another from that book, combined with all the charisma stories nowadays. I really liked his thoughts about the impact of the destiny in our lives. 50/50.
January 10, 2023
Bits of Advice given in the book still resonate in the policies of countries. Even in the 21st century, leaders can make use of it. After all, it mainly focuses on how to run a state successfully, maintaining relations with other states, and emphasizes the important aspect i.e relationship between people and leaders. The best read for politicians.
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