Unit 2: Precepts of Power

Author Bio: Precepts of Power is written by Niccolo Machiavelli. Over years of writing the Machiavelli name has become synonymous with evil. The church viewed his ideas as immoral and inspired by satan himself. Machiavelli was actually far from this description. He was a loyal citizen of Florence who had been well educated and schooled in the classics, and chose a career in public service. He disliked the rule of the Medici family and was a great advocate of republicanism. He was eventually named ambassador of France and stayed at this job until 1512, when his personally trained militia was defeated by a Spanish army.

Date/Context: Precepts of Power is from Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince”. He wrote it after his time as ambassador of France was over, in 1512, and he had retired to the countryside. It was a time when the Medici family was being put back into power.

Summary: In the writings, Machiavelli talks about how he believes a prince should not act above the people, good or bad he should live with all of his subjects. A prince should also behave in manners tempered by prudence and humanity, and that they should always act with caution. He acknowledges that by saying this an argument arises; is it better to be loved than to be feared? Machiavelli believes that the prince should act as both. Next, Machiavelli describes how a prince should keep his word. He emphasizes that a prince should be known for his integrity and not by deceit that everyone already knows.

Key Quotation: “A prince must be cautious in believing and in acting, nor should he be afraid of his own shadow; and he should proceed in such a manner, tempered by prudence and humanity, so that too much trust may not render him imprudent nor too much distrust render him intolerable.”