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is_book_loring 's review for:
The Prince
by Niccolò Machiavelli
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."