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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
medium-paced
A bit of a slog, but interesting on how to be a good versus bad prince. Survival by choosing your friends and enemies and placement.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
It took me longer to get through this book than I thought.
While it is largely an easy book to read, at times, the material is so dense (Good GOD, the Run-on Sentences) that it took me a day to really recover and go back in.
Overall, Machiavelli here offers decently sound advice (for the Time it was written) on the ways a Prince should go about gaining and maintaining Power. In truth, I expected this to be more "You should destroy everyone in your path" compared to a well-rounded way through which a Prince could understand himself. A true "Mirror of Princes" work.
While it is largely an easy book to read, at times, the material is so dense (Good GOD, the Run-on Sentences) that it took me a day to really recover and go back in.
Overall, Machiavelli here offers decently sound advice (for the Time it was written) on the ways a Prince should go about gaining and maintaining Power. In truth, I expected this to be more "You should destroy everyone in your path" compared to a well-rounded way through which a Prince could understand himself. A true "Mirror of Princes" work.
informative
slow-paced
Um pequeno livro que tenta aconselhar como um Príncipe italiano (neste caso Médici) pode manter o seu poder através de exemplos do passado e da atualidade da época, acredito que há muitos empresários a tirar notas deste tratado (menos a parte de matar todos os inimigos, acho eu!). Compreendo o porquê a palavra maquiavel foi baseada neste homem, que escrevia acerca de matar e de utilizar a astúcia e mesmo enganar se fosse preciso para atingir os objectivos impostos (que época tão sanguinária!!).
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Fascinating insight into the nature of warfare and political power; the strength and weakness of different kinds of principalities, how they could be acquired and should be governed and maintaned; the correlation among elements of power in a state, relationship between princes and the people.
In The Prince, Machiavelli employed his extraordinary intellect and fearless, ruthless pragmatism dissecting various important Italian historical figures during the Renaissance: their temper, warfare, civil policies, state strategy using cold rationality and modern political thoughts in the hope of teaching a worthy new prince to unite the people of Italy in his time.
Note on My Oxford World's Classic of this so called handbook of evil, so glad to have this excellent copy, I found the explanatory notes remarkably helpful in providing background infomation of historical figures in the text, without I would be completely lost.
Some of advices that could be applied in other area of life:
"Friendship acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are purchased but not owned, and at the proper time can not be spent."
"You should never wish to fall down, in the belief that you will find someone to pick you up. Only those defences that depend on you yourself and your own virtue are good, certain and lasting."
"Prudence consists in knowing how to recognize the nature of disadvantages, and how to choose the least sorry one as good."
"The man who adapts his method of procedure to the nature of the times will prosper, and likewise, that the man who establishes his procedures out of tune with times will come to grief."
"Therefore, injuries should be inflicted all at once, for the less they are tasted the better, the less harm they do. However, benefits should be distributed a little at a time, so that they may be fully savoured."
In The Prince, Machiavelli employed his extraordinary intellect and fearless, ruthless pragmatism dissecting various important Italian historical figures during the Renaissance: their temper, warfare, civil policies, state strategy using cold rationality and modern political thoughts in the hope of teaching a worthy new prince to unite the people of Italy in his time.
Note on My Oxford World's Classic of this so called handbook of evil, so glad to have this excellent copy, I found the explanatory notes remarkably helpful in providing background infomation of historical figures in the text, without I would be completely lost.
Some of advices that could be applied in other area of life:
"Friendship acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are purchased but not owned, and at the proper time can not be spent."
"You should never wish to fall down, in the belief that you will find someone to pick you up. Only those defences that depend on you yourself and your own virtue are good, certain and lasting."
"Prudence consists in knowing how to recognize the nature of disadvantages, and how to choose the least sorry one as good."
"The man who adapts his method of procedure to the nature of the times will prosper, and likewise, that the man who establishes his procedures out of tune with times will come to grief."
"Therefore, injuries should be inflicted all at once, for the less they are tasted the better, the less harm they do. However, benefits should be distributed a little at a time, so that they may be fully savoured."
informative
reflective
slow-paced
a good read i guess, but I have to be honest — most of the wording used in the book made the reading slightly difficult for me to concentrate and I had to reread lines waaay too much.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
though I find it more useful as personal philosophy, Machiavelli's attitude towards the conduct of law is a pretty pragmatic guide to relations domestic and international, though I have no intention of reading Hobbes, I took away one star because of his attitude towards governing without contractual agreements, such as what the afformentioned Hobbes and Rousseau were about. Though sometimes it pertains to notice when dealing with your boss, your children (if you have any) or anyone who challenges your authority or rights, that tough love is the best kind of love.