The Prince

By Niccolò Machiavelli

Il Principe (The Prince) is a political treatise by the Florentine public servant and political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli. Originally called De Principatibus (About Principalities), it was written in 1513, but not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. The treatise is not representative of the work published during his lifetime, but it is the most remembered, and the work responsible for bringing "Machiavellian" into wide usage as a pejorative term. It has also been suggested by some critics that the piece is, in fact, a satire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Booklassic
• Release date: Jun 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9789635273324

Niccolò Machiavelli

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian diplomat, philosopher and writer during the Renaissance era. Machiavelli led a politically charged life, often depicting his political endorsements in his writing. He led his own militia, and believed that violence made a leader more effective. Though he held surprising endorsements, Machiavelli is considered to be the father of political philosophy and political science, studying governments in an unprecedented manner that has forever shaped the field.

Book preview

���1^book_preview_excerpt.html�Z��۶}<�����&�=�q�q�6v2�'�-DB���嫾F_�O�sv
��=����D���={��BO�g�~�̓o����W�~�������/�gOO��=�%����{���ǿ��є�3��q�߹���br��h�����p��׿�+��1Y����rz���M7������sw26��ܽ���ǎ�ds��8��)�L�e�������e�wxۙ��ŗ����_?���)���w��]�/1s�av;�=�q;nr�s��sw'���M�.��ܙ�]S���ug.�7��Svygld�]��vs������3[�(��^l��36����P�U<\r=V�dZ�S9]��cr�`�|�g��G�F��8�� �4�hq�+v�q`��v90]��)0�p�QϑNߙ��da�C��U;���~����͈�`7�`l�f�?���;9��Ź�[��~�������7�+2 ă��aI��1{����5�p��"/��vc��h��`�p.j��X�8�SϽ�� &.�;�8{ݎ�����p� ���:��x�5�]���y�~Շ��`��ɮ@����>�{w~� Jp�� �z�����<�>�7�������
/�F�+��T]"oЀ��+���}�*�J��unB\���=�JU�vvT$��1"�J�'��c�C������� ���`W����n/���2�G�%r�xől��aK�lF�l���O��ގG�7*P�]�3��w�iӳ�t���#��G' �a �>HL$"��c�|q!�h��&xp�X�f{T&��@�vv� ,�}��� /aN�/�)`L�Cڹ�K@$�
�/?��A^=b"W9��|!�=
0^XV��P���#L��o���F~O�I�!/��%�J_;�x�Q�&��� �<�wݲ� $0^"ߗ����EUW�R�_���a��t#�.�Q�IE���a���ET[�{�nU#�=�Y���M"���+��8(+���Lh�KE�gx�T�}��=�\��ЇӠ�a����xnL"pTb�=�A
c���1�R�?�4��2�]6RY��'J{_ �w7��>��v����T��$ _ذ�ZA`�*�v%2/ ��\htH��A��@��Sγ�W>X���$�vѼ��~o��L.L������%��-�ף�H��1ݍ�k�~YX�����Gl��_�),�"жSq$�~3!�����rti)>����Y�v��\X��\}|H�=���-cG���� ��1�Q�����j����1ƞ�І�$|q��z���qu���-0`E+��J���6O���i]�F��V2�с���c9��b�4E��{ׅ9ú�z�z��9xUW���\�vIE�;=�ꤠ�Ω��;K��j�E���}��N�~2H֮_� ;�זh���l���p�E��� �blI��mVQ9y@bd�����P���m���V��Aݭʫ,��\�Իɦ���9C� �� @�e!�F.��Ek[�J�Qw���cd#9!1����-[�Խ�v`f�U�')P"�76\���(��!aF��["�G�����D[��혅���\��� +y����jp��m��\KV?�0�-�{��������ARFTI�W(�Ԯs�E
�n��b�dR, |n@�~��g/\JP{;�Q2I'��D4=|UvQMt����FW���;8���,�x�M����,z�ABN����L�{���ba��?��M�|��M"4�dr����C����$\ ���U�f���Y�?���A�"$�!��.\+���~��Z�Td*��9郑ӫ#Y3HC��W�5�K�
F�Qu�0�- ��V��o�������)ʺ���Z���O�y�rvA��fXK��6���A��K)�|]����M�I/k����%�t>u���0u(�K9G�3�U�tOQ��h�k:G�@;5h�q�z� V��� BV�@����0��qI���xq�-�y6�����5D�o\�JeDȉ���NU�r� �jf���a����ڰ�οo-� Z٩�fB!5�|�ۤ��6��N.L�o�9��Xec>�D6� �#��9[��I#>���6B���4R�u�����xe��T�r���$.���h{��+��YȈ��s0��k��Qh+#��r������L� �v��x�{��E���j�9��U7��t�ϗ/%K
�����k� ���(Y )>���MHz�6|ԞKˀmkš����˃��R1
kd��֬��@t�� B��9�35���&m�T�|b;-��������"��p�Z���i"U�i�v�ކ�4㱟,�}����NJHRyW%a=!���c�L"��� �P ����!Rjk ˩y
�R�F�c�&i�P_8���Xo*l�xk�U�����r�6h�Z_ON�g*)"�Z0�h�8���V�Ar�v_u`b�o�f��B!^J¹��������,���6\��R?Z��Q*>N���m��h,
R�#�v��=�d�7�7�K�]�f^ ���,p��X'���^�x]���l���6�MSJf��*�������������fs�٦0���3]:��5��ތ��`���x�TV�p��<��.�<,:������M�fT��5��i���ZK����ΛN��Xx]���&�G3�zk ��Xj>�]IB�"�V�]���cx�T���6t�+���$���µ�����SB9m�h[;��!6i�-5��E${��cBXj����Z��^}�Z���65��zݒzшK2������
'�� I��"Jc\6!9���*��K̤A�V��l����9���+���儕NJ=�YAn4.F_�YA�� � v9���,��R(��n�֮��������IZ�tݦ�Ing���Ą�cU���� ()��+ j���af�SÕK�{�ʸE���T����o�.l�n%�'A��R��Y��j�`/��,������Eh�bw���I�Zz7A�0M1I_b�k�i! �_����7�^�]��o$�{[m���%��T���BE����?[Q�6W^[_^[! 3�g�QUK�����I��o����
Ȉ�f4��m���-֜�)~��ǎQS����X�U[�Q]$�j��B��d>��|�jHm%��ZS֛V6��QC@�з���9�׫uw��%�@t��];V'�F���%�~�������$

Reviews for The Prince

[harrod_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting

[velmeran · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I understand that his take is controversial, I have to tell you, it makes sense. It's not nice, but it is practical.

[reganrule · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thought rereading this might shed some light on the Trump presidency until I realized that there is a crucial difference between realpolitik and realityTVpolitiking.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Zeer geromantiseerde inleidingIntussen overbekende politieke theorie (efficiëntie gaat voor op ethiek). Moeilijke lectuur

[karl6steel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First time reading it since my 1989 Great Books course at Evergreen. A lot of fun to teach. The Dover edition, so far as I can determine, is perfectly serviceable, and, presuming I'm rating the right book, is improved vastly by including excerpts from The Discourses. Complicates things nicely for the students.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Prince is filled with advice for leaders hoping to hold on to their positions. This book does a great job at describing situations of power and statesmanship. From political and corporate power struggles to attaining advancement, influence and authority over others, Machiavelli’s observations apply. He gives advice based on the example of many leaders who came before, especially those in Italy. I loved reading this while watching Game of Thrones. So much of the advice is applicable. The show is all about vying for the throne and multiple people desperately maneuvering to get closer to the power. The book is all about the different ways of ruling, gaining favor, ruling with fear, etc. I loved seeing how the advice in The Prince was so perfectly mirrored in the different actions of characters on GOT. Every Lord or Prince in GOT takes a different route in their struggle for power and each one is like an example acting out the pros and cons of the advice in The Prince. So much of the book deals with the tightrope leaders must walk between being loved and feared…“Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved?”Just like being a parent, the ruler must decide which is more important to him. If he is only feared there is always the chance of disloyalty and revolt. If he is only loved than people might not respect his leadership and will rise against him. It is a difficult decision to make. BOTTOM LINE: Ruling has always been a cutthroat profession. One must almost always chose between making your subjects love you or fear you and that decision is at the heart of this book. I enjoyed reading about the different ruling styles and once again realized that not much has changed in politics. “This has been figuratively taught to princes by ancient writers, who describe how Achilles and many other princes of old were given to the Centaur Chiron to nurse, who brought them up in his discipline; which means solely that, as they had for a teacher one who was half beast and half man, so it is necessary for a prince to know how to make use of both natures, and that one without the other is not durable.”“Therefore, one who becomes a prince through the favour of the people ought to keep them friendly, and this he can easily do seeing they only ask not to be oppressed by him. But one who, in opposition to the people, becomes a prince by the favour of the nobles, ought, above everything, to seek to win the people over to himself, and this he may easily do if he takes them under his protection. Because men, when they receive good from him of whom they were expecting evil, are bound more closely to their benefactor; thus the people quickly become more devoted to him.”“But to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories, and study there the actions of illustrious men, to see how they have borne themselves in war, to examine the causes of their victories and defeat, so as to avoid the latter and imitate the former”“A prince, therefore, ought always to take counsel, but only when he wishes and not when others wish; he ought rather to discourage everyone from offering advice unless he asks it; but, however, he ought to be a constant inquirer, and afterwards a patient listener concerning the things of which he inquired.”

[elosoblanco · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If I were more of a historian I would have been able to dive deeper into this book. Missing some context, I struggled with a few bits and pieces of Machiavelli's statements, but the rest of his ideas and examples are pretty easy to follow. I see how this book, in the hands of the wrong person, could lead to cruelties, however, I also totally see what the book is getting at, and I enjoyed reading it.

[starkravingmad_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Now understand why it's a classic 

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this because it is one of those books everyone says should be read. It wasn't terribly long, the translation was easily understandable and I thought I would give it a try.What surprised me, was that I enjoyed it. I found Machiavelli's teaching style very good. He sets forth a principle, then illustrates it with examples from both ancient history and his times. It was easy to go from there and find examples in our modern times of most of the principles he set forth. I found myself marveling at his insight into human nature and the practicalities of leadership in a fallen world.Needless to say, I now feel myself prepared to take on the leadership of any minor principality which would have me. World, beware!

[msnikki · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The ultimate take no prisoners guide to ruling your world. Written as a guide to the monarchy, as the name suggests, but completely applicable to modern life.Some magazines have named it as a key componant to the cliched 80s Fortune 500 executive and it is easy to see why.A great well thought out read.I highly recommend it.

[elizabeth5michele · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read this simply because I had heard interesting things and it was indeed an interesting read with some interesting themes and ideas. A must for anyone considering politics.

[nickdreamsong · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My job requires me to function in a highly politicized work environment. I work with a large group of department heads, providing counsel on issues pertaining to the fine art of people management. Some of them are philosopher kings and others are callous despots. I have found that rereading THE PRINCE every few years reminds me of the basics. Whether the princes are in the courts of the Italian peninsula during the Renaissance or in the offices of a large corporation at the dawn of the 21st century, people with authority act in similar ways. There is much to be learned from this amazing little book.

[irenef_288826 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Other people have reviewed The Prince's content. I gave this book four stars; I would have given it five if the translation were better. This edition (Dover Thrift) is certainly economical, but the sentences are long, convoluted, and reverse subject and object. It took me a while to get through even though it runs only 71 pages. I had to sit there and wrestle with the verbiage as I went.Otherwise, thought-provoking and a handbook of international relations.

[surreality_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The original Italian text and German translation in parallel print. Allusions and references to most events and people given as examples are added to facilitate reading. A coldly pragmatic look at power play and its tools. Chilling at times, but rational and also clever. It's a very practical approach to the philosophy of power, and despite almost all examples being Machiavelli's contemporaries, the ideas still hold true. A fascinating text to read.

[caffeinated_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's scary how informative this is. If you want to know what it's like to put aside your conscience and be a_real_politician, then reading this will not disappoint. It's prudent and insightful as to what was possible for a prince. (4 1/2)

[ragnell_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I'm fascinated with politics, but I can't read this edition. The font and the paragraph structure are distracting from the actual words. My eyes would not let me finish it.

[wprecht_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic and available in many translations. The one pictured above isn’t the one that I have, but it is probably close enough. Avoid ones with lots of commentary and dreck added. Read the true Nick and think for yourself. I first read this while in college, but for pleasure (don’t go there). Then I reread it for a history course several years later. I think that I got more out of it the second time around making it one of those fairly rare books with true reread potential. There is probably more here than I got out of it, but it isn’t my main period and there are other fish to fry...Even though Machiavelli was never a military commander, his grasp of the essentials of political strategy and it’s sometimes necessary extension, military force is excellent. This book is not for the whifty, politically correct whiners in the crowd, however. One must place this treatise in the context in which it was written, Machiavelli wrote this after being kicked out of office by Lorenzo de’ Medic in 1512. The Italy of his time was a collection of small city states at nearly constant war.The following quote sums things up quite nicely:"It must be understood, that a prince ... cannot observe all of those virtues for which men are reputed good, because it is often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state."

[clfisha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I do not often (or um ever) find myself reading political treatises but the evils of Machiavellian politics is so hyped I was intrigued.Broken down into different methods of acquiring, then keeping land, then to turning to discuss various details such the merits of fear or how to gain nobility its a short, eminently readable and fascinating account of politics of a very different time.Its not really evil, more that the morality question is just ignored. Take his wonderful advice on keeping your word: Don't (although the trick is you must always been seen to be keep it). So immoral and it cynical maybe (whether meant as a satire or not I cannot comment) but I found it hard to be offended by it, especially if viewed in a historical context and it definitely needs that context otherwise it would be a much poorer book.

[expatscot-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The introduction to Italy at the beginning of the book is almost worth more than the book itself. However it is a decent read and one that can happily be chalked off the "must read that one day" list without feeling one has completed a chore.The core of the book is somewhat repetitive in that the advice given seems to boil down to a relatively few nuggets, but in some ways that was maybe his point, that no matter the situation the best course of action doesn't vary all that much.The biggest surprise to me was how much Italy was a real concept even when the city states and provinces were the methods of governance, I guess I'd always thought it was only when the state was brought together that it really existed, but it was obviously in people minds and, indeed, Machiavelli's dreams.

[rgazala_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As has been true the past 500 years, any would-be power monger's bedside table unadorned with a copy of this slim treatise is shamefully naked. This is an excellent translation by Peter Constantine, filled with helpful footnotes and capped by a solid bibliography.

[watertiger_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some things never change, and so it is with The Prince by Machiavelli. Completely deplete of any moral concerns, this short book is the complete "how-to" manual in governing the masses through manipulation, cruelty and random acts of beneficence. A must read for anyone interested in the realms of politics. Scary stuff.

[corrodonk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Looking to make a rise to power? Interested in the many ways to maintain a small province? Planning on conquering a neighboring city and winning the hearts of the people?The Prince is for you.By that introduction I did not mean to underplay the significance of The Prince. I found that much of what Machiavelli said on the maintaining power in provinces after war to be very relevant, an impressive accomplishment seeing as how this book dates to the 1500s. Most notably the guideline about which people are easily conquered, and the ease in which that group can be maintained falling into two distinct categories; Do they speak the same language and do they follow the same religion? While reading this book I considered America's venture into the Middle East, and was quite astonished to see the similarities. This book is practically a guide on political strategy and the acquisition of power.If I knew how to add half a star to my review I would. :D

[sarapoole_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some authors make the bestseller lists; some win Nobel prizes; only a precious few are eternalized in the language itself. Machiavelli earned his place in our consciousness and our vocabulary with a single work, “The Prince”, at once a shocking, rivetting, thought-provoking and ultimately unforgettable portrayal of power politics in the Renaissance that remains as fresh and relevant now as it was in the early 16th century. Machiavelli wrote from internal exile after losing his government position with the dissolution of the Florentine republic and the return to power of the Medicis. Having survived imprisonment and torture, he was allowed to retire to his farm where he grappled with the sudden change in his fortunes and took refuge in a study of the lessons he had learned while in government. The result was “The Prince”, essentially a master plan for attaining and holding power. Most infamous for Machiavelli’s refusal to bow to either sentiment or idealism, the handbook for the mega-ambitious stresses the essentially practical reality of power and warns that "it is often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state."

[villemel-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The most memorable introduction I had to this book was that it was one of those enduring sets of ideas, from which each enthused reader would take something different. And indeed that it what I found. The result is that the read tells you little about the end of Italy's dark ages and more about your own personal struggle with life. Machiavelli's nobility, mercenaries and people become like the mountains, valleys and the earth of Chinese philosophy, mere figures for the politics of one's own life.

As someone always on the look out for material, I found this an incredibly rich source. Its strong points are its organised approach and the author's astute understanding of power relations. What is intriguing is that it is hard to tell how much of his knowledge was earned from erudition, how much from conversation and how much from imagination. Some ideas are, as his reputation precedes, controversial, but that does not take away from the overall portrait he paints. Nor does it predict his cloudy ambition or somewhat pure motivations.

[empress8411 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having heard many thing about this book, I was eager to dig in and see what the fuss was about. I have to say, Machiavelli was an INTJ. His prose, his ideas, his assessments - all of them are logical, well-explained, and rational. I understand why people might assume he is conniving and evil. But truthfully, he's just practical and honest about what it takes to rule. If I ever decide to take over the world, Machiavelli will be my guide.

[jimocracy · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was mediocre and boring. I was expecting great insight and all I got was my time wasted.

[justindtapp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I should have read this book (free for Kindle) years ago. Machiavelli's works on ancient history came up frequently in a different book I read recently, and he has been cited in several other books on my lists. Alas, I've now read this work. I find some of the oft-cited passages I hear are somewhat taken out of context.

The version I read had a brief biographical sketch of Machiavelli, which was helpful. Machiavelli is foremost a historian, so he cites examples of rulers and conflicts both from Florentine and Italian history, the current Ottoman state, Greco-Roman history, and the Bible.

He starts by looking at the failures of statecraft-- how a monarch can lose a state which he has conquered or inherited. Louis XII was one such object of failure in his aims on Italian provinces. He talks of how one holds a free Republic, you either have to destroy it or make it a tributary while encouraging development of an oligarchy there to maintain defacto control. This seems like it's played out accurately in world history.

Machiavelli's "it's better to be feared than loved" is in the context of a Prince who takes a territory who was originally not his own. There will likely be unrest, so the advice is to do some large act of cruel suppression up front to quell dissent and then do small acts of benevolence over time to keep the populace pacified. If a ruler drags out the cruelty, he will breed hatred which is the ultimate failure of a monarch. The ruler must appear to be capable of both cruelty and mercy, so that he appeals more broadly, and where possible he should have an underling be the "bad cop" enforcer. It'd be best to be both feared and loved, but you will always have to give one of those up and it's best to give up love. The great projects of history, according to Machiavelli, were done by rulers who were remembered to be mean and not kind.

It's always a bad idea to rely on foreign mercenaries for your army. Machiavelli marks the decline of Rome with the hiring of Goths to do soldiering at the cost of the Roman army. France was making the same mistake in relying on Swiss mercenaries at the time of his writing. Building fortresses are of no defense when the people hate you.

A ruler has to be "liberal" in his spending. Games and welfare for the people, benefits for the standing army. This is obviously hard to do unless you're conquering and expropriating-- otherwise you bankrupt your treasury. The Prince gains glory and reputation by accomplishing big tasks-- namely conquering territories and enriching the kingdom.

The Prince should also seem to be a man of integrity. The great rulers abandon virtue when they have to-- sometimes they have to break their word in order to protect their position or the state. This is acceptable so long as not done in such a away that the people despise him. The prince should be virtuous but also know how and when to get his hands dirty.

A Prince should have a few advisors that he listens to and that he rewards for speaking honestly and openly; he should ignore all other opinion. The Prince should always make sure his advisors and viceroys know that their positions-- their wealth, authority, and very lives-- are at the whim of the Prince so that they don't go seeking their own gain or become corrupt.

A Prince is someone who believes he has the power to shape world events, that everything isn't left to "fortune" or random chance forces of history. He yields that authority and has other men follow him.

I enjoyed this book, it's obviously a 5 star classic.

[trilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bombastic at times, though quite entertaining. Still not sure when Tupac is coming back.

[dlott_13 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ok book - best way I can describe. Simple to read and interesting to parallel to the world we now live in but overall nothing amazing

[bnielsen_30 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Et klassisk værk om hvorledes en fyrste bør regere.Indeholder 26 kapitler: "Om forskellige arter af fyrstevælder og måder at erhverve dem på", "Om de arvelige fyrstevælder", "Om blandede fyrstevælder", "Hvorfor Darius' rige, som Alexander erobrede, ved dennes død ikke gjorde oprør mod hans efterfølger", "Hvorledes man skal styre de byer og fyrstevælder, der før erobringen havde egne love", "Om erhvervelsen af et nyt fyrstevælde ved egne våben og dygtighed", "Om erhvervelsen af et nyt fyrstevælde ved fremmede våben og lykkens hjælp", "Om fyrster, der når herredømmet ved forbrydelser", "Om folkefyrster", "Hvordan alle fyrstevælders kraft skal måles", "Om gejstlige fyrstevælder", "Om forskellige arter stridskræfter og om lejetropper", "Om hjælpetropper, blandede og egne tropper", "Om en fyrstes militære opgaver", "Hvad der skaffer menneskene og især fyrsterne ros eller dadel", "Om gavmildhed og gerrighed", "Om grusomhed og mildhed, og om at det er bedre at blive frygtet end elsket", "Hvorvidt en fyrste altid skal stå ved sit ord", "Man må undgå ringeagt og had", "Om fæstninger eller andre forholdsregler, der træffes af fyrsten, er til nytte eller skade", "Hvorledes en fyrste skal optræde for at vinde anseelse", "Om fyrsternes statssekretærer", "Hvorledes man skal undgå smiger", "Hvorledes Italiens fyrster har tabt deres stater", "Hvad skæbnen formår i de menneskelige anliggender, og hvorledes man skal kæmpe imod den", "Opråb om at befri Italien fra barbarerne".I denne bog behandler forfatteren kun fyrstedømmer. Han indleder med at sige at arvestater er meget lettere at bevare end nyerhvervede stater. Han betoner at folkets gunst er vigtig at bevare og at man bør bosætte sig i en nyerobret stat. Man bør svække de stærke naboer og støtte de svage uden at styrke dem.Udmærket læsning. Machiavelli argumenterer for sine synspunkter, fx at lejetropper og hjælpetropper kun er af det onde, og har mange underbyggende eksempler.En manual for at opnå og bevare magt