The Prince : A 16th-century political treatise of political philosophy by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli. - Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

A 16th-century political treatise of political philosophy by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli.

By: Niccolo Machiavelli

Paperback | 28 July 2020

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The Prince is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. From his correspondence, a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus (Of Principalities). However, the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. This was carried out with the permission of the Medici pope Clement VII, but "long before then, in fact since the first appearance of The Prince in manuscript, controversy had swirled about his writings".

Although The Prince was written as if it were a traditional work in the mirrors for princes style, it is generally agreed that it was especially innovative. This is partly because it was written in the vernacular Italian rather than Latin, a practice that had become increasingly popular since the publication of Dante's Divine Comedy and other works of Renaissance literature.

The Prince is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philosophy, especially modern political philosophy, in which the "effectual" truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. It is also notable for being in direct conflict with the dominant Catholic and scholastic doctrines of the time, particularly those concerning politics and ethics.

Although it is relatively short, the treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works and the one most responsible for bringing the word Machiavellian into usage as a pejorative. It even contributed to the modern negative connotations of the words politics and politician in Western countries. In subject matter it overlaps with the much longer Discourses on Livy, which was written a few years later. In its use of near-contemporary Italians as examples of people who perpetrated criminal deeds for politics, another lesser-known work by Machiavelli which The Prince has been compared to is the Life of Castruccio Castracani.

The descriptions within The Prince have the general theme of accepting that the aims of princes - such as glory and survival - can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends:

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"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are."

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince


"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared."

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince


"The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves."

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince


"The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him."

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince


"There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you."

Machiavelli Niccolo, The Prince


"Never was anything great achieved without danger."

Niccolo Machiavelli

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

Published: 30th June 1992

Hardcover

Published: 15th March 2008

Hardcover

Published: 22nd October 2014

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