The Prince (Niccolo Machiavelli)

What does Machiavelli say about virtue?

He defines virtue as qualities that are praised by others, such as generosity, compassion, and piety.

Also see - http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/themes.html

What does Machiavelli say about generosity?

Machiavelli basically says generosity can hurt a prince if the prince is unwise, but it can also be good if the prince knows how to control it. It is more important for the prince to keep his power by being a bit mean than it is for him to be generous and loved. Being generous is a good thing, but only when it is given wisely.

Liberality, or generosity, is a quality that many men admire. But if a prince develops a reputation for generosity, he will ruin his state. A reputation for generosity requires outward lavishness, which eventually depletes all of the prince's resources. In the end, the prince will be forced to burden his people with excessive taxes in order to raise the money to maintain his reputation for generosity. Ultimately, the prince's liberality will make the people despise and resent him. Moreover, any prince who attempts to change his reputation for generosity will immediately develop a reputation for being a miser.

Also see - http://luftyapeuro.blogspot.com/2010/10/according-to-machiavelli-when-is.html

What does Machiavelli say about cruelty?

Inflict all the cruelty at once, then never again. If he commits cruelty towards his subjects, the he is endangering himself by breeding hatred and resentment among the populace.

What does Machiavelli say about love and fear?

"it is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails."

"It is best to be both feared and loved; however, if one cannot be both it is better to be feared than loved."

According to Machiavelli, what is the best way to acquire a new state?

By fortune or strength, a prince can acquire a new principality with his own army or with the arms of others.

It is much easier to maintain control over a new principality if the people share the same language and customs as the prince's own country. If this is the case, the prince has to do only two things: destroy the family of the former prince, and maintain the principality's laws and taxes. People will live quietly and peacefully so long as their old ways of life are undisturbed.

What does Machiavelli say about fortune?

Chapter XXV discusses the role of fortune in the determination of human affairs. Many thinkers have considered the question of whether a man's actions are a manifestation of his own free will, or if they are simply determined by fate or his environment. Machiavelli attempts to compromise between free will and determinism by arguing that fortune controls half of human actions and leaves the other half to free will. But Machiavelli also argues that, through foresight—a quality whose importance Machiavelli stresses throughout The Prince—people can shield themselves against fortune's slings and arrows. Thus, Machiavelli can be described as confident in the capabilities of human beings to shape their destinies, but skeptical that such control is absolute. Fortune favors energetic youth over cautious age.

According to Machiavelli, how should princes honor their word?

Machiavelli acknowledges that a prince who honors his word is generally praised by others. But historical experience demonstrates that princes achieve the most success when they are crafty, cunning, and able to trick others. There are two ways of fighting: by law or by force. Laws come naturally to men, force comes naturally to beasts. In order to succeed, the prince must learn how to fight both with laws and with force—he must become half man and half beast.

In dealing with people, a prince must break his promises when they put him at a disadvantage and when the reasons for which he made the promises no longer exist. In any case, promises are never something on which a prince can rely, since men are by nature wretched and deceitful. A prince should be a master of deception.

According to Machiavelli, above all else, what must a prince avoid?

Of all the things he must guard against, hatred and contempt come first, and liberality leads to both.

When inducing fear, however, a prince must be careful to avoid inducing hatred. He must make sure that any executions are properly justified. Above all, a prince should never confiscate the property of his subjects or take their women, since these actions are most likely to breed hatred. If a prince must confiscate property, he must make sure he has a convincing reason. With one's army, however, there is no such thing as too much cruelty. Keeping an army disciplined and united requires cruelty, even inhuman cruelty.

According to Machiavelli, what are the different ways a prince can act to win honor?

Chapters XXI and XXII underscore the importance of appearing honorable and wise. This goal can be achieved partly through the selection of a loyal and competent personal staff. Machiavelli distinguishes between a virtuous appearance and an honorable, wise appearance. Appearing virtuous—generous, benevolent, and pious—is desirable but not necessary. However, appearing honorable and sagacious is crucial. Machiavelli's preference for some good qualities over others—for example, courage and decisiveness over generosity—is grounded in a practical argument. Generosity is undesirable because it wastes capital resources; decisiveness is desirable because it breeds respect among allies and subjects.

What sort of people must a prince strive to gather around himself? Avoid?

He must gather himself around people who make the state friendly towards them. He must avoid people who induce hatred.

What are the different kinds of principalities that Machiavelli discusses?

Machiavelli lists four types of principalities:

Hereditary principalities, which are inherited by the ruler

Mixed principalities, territories that are annexed to the ruler's existing territories

New principalities, which may be acquired by several methods: by one's own power, by the power of others, by criminal acts or extreme cruelty, or by the will of the people (civic principalities)

Ecclesiastical principalities, namely the Papal States belonging to the Catholic church

What are the different kinds of troops that Machiavelli discusses?

Machiavelli lists four types of armies:

Mercenaries or hired soldiers, which are dangerous and unreliable

Auxiliaries, troops that are loaned to you by other rulers—also dangerous and unreliable

Native troops, composed of one's own citizens or subjects—by far the most desirable kind

Mixed troops, a combination of native troops and mercenaries or auxiliaries—still less desirable than a completely native army

According to Machiavelli, why have the Italian princes lost their states?

The rulers of Italy have lost their states by ignoring the political and military principles Machiavelli enumerates.