Reviewing The Prince

This is a copy of notes I took while reading Machiavelli's The Prince. It is currently in its crudest form as I copy it directly from my paper notes. Also, I still have several pages left to copy.
Last Update: 20-SEP-2008

  1. Kingdoms are either hereditary or they are new. If they are new then they have either been newly formed or newly acquired.

    The people are either accustomed to being free, or they are accustomed to being under a prince.

  2. Kingdoms are either acquired by force of arms, fortune (good luck) or ability.

    In general, the people love hereditary princes more than princes established by acquisition

  3. Princes of acquisition must deal with people accustomed to change. This creates difficulty. If they don't love the prince, then they will want to change him.

    Advice: Keep the good will of the natives

    In a situation where the prince has been overthrown, but lives to return and reacquire the kingdom, he will more firmly establish himself. This is because, when he returns, he can punish the rebels.

    Advice when acquiring a kingdom where the language and customs of the people are the same as those of the main kingdom.

    • Generally, this is easier then when the languages and customs of the people are different.
    • Completely extinguish the former lord and his family.
    • Do not alter their laws and taxes

    Advice when acquiring a kingdom where the laws and customs are different from those of the main kingdom

    • Take up residence in the new kingdom
      • This allows you to deal with uprisings and problems immediately
      • Keep your officials from pillaging the natives
      • You can more quickly deal with outside attackers trying to take it from you.
    • Send Colonies to the New Kingdom
      • It only offends a few people
      • It is cheaper than using calvalry and infantry to garrison the kingdom.
      • It Breeds loyalty to the main kingdom

    • General advice

      • Men ought to be well treated or crushed.
      • Defend the weak among the people.
      • Weaken the powerful among the people.

  4. It is important to manage carefully the power structure that exists around you. Obligate where possible. Do not allow one to become too powerful. Doing this incorrectly causes failure of the acquisition.

    CJG Comment: Keep the Minor Powers in Authority.

    • Never Split a Kingdom:If you don't have the power or will to take an entire kingdom, don't take only part of it. Don't share it with a coalition.

    • War is never to be avoided: Attempting to avoid war only defers it. Deferring war always works to your disadvantage.

    • Don't give up your kingdom for silly favors.

      • It is better to be revealed as the sinner than to be blackmailed.
      • It is better to go without than to allow someone a piece of your kingdom for something.

    • Never put a foreigner in charge of any portion of your kingdom.

  5. Two Types of Kingdoms

    1. Prince & Ministers with Slaves and Bondmen

      Hard to take, but easy to hold (why? - CJG)

    2. Prince and Barons

      Easy to take but hard to hold

      This seems to be based on the autonomy of the servants and the long memory of their emplacement. They have a history with the people.

      If choosing between the two types, pick the first. However, in order to keep it from becoming like the second, you should continuously reorganize it.

      That is: Move your people around to avoid the establishment of Barons.

  6. Three ways to hold a one free city. (That is, a city that had its own laws.)

    1. Ruin it

    2. Live in it

    3. Form an Oligarchy and take tribute from it.

    If the third fails, do the first. The first is the most effective solution.

    VI

    Aim High – Walk on the path of great men. Do so even if you're not able. Archers without strength aim higher than their mark. Examples of those who with ability rose to princehood: Moses, Cyrus (Medes & Persians), Romulus (of Alba – King of Rome), Theseus (Athenians)

    Moses was executing the will of God.

    Opportunity and Ability

    It is very dangerous to to take the lead in a new order.

    • Those who did well under the old order are going to be your enemies.

    • Those who may do well under the order are lukewarm defenders.

    • People won't believe the new until they experience it (CJG – How true in today's business world!)

    • It is better to hold by your own ability or force than by relying upon others.

    VII

    Those who quickly rise to power can quickly fall.

    Lack of knowledge and No foundation

    They must lay the foundation after the position is obtained.

    (Examples: Francesco Sforza? - Means and Ability : Cesare Borgia – Fortune)

    Foundations for Future Power

    • Conceal your mind.

    • Set the powers that be at odds with each other.

    • Depend as little as possible on the arms and luck of others.

    • Win over the opponent's forces “with honey” (Pull them to you.) (I have a note here “Prosperity” ... Don't know why I put it there. -CJG)

    • Use rebellions as advantages to expand. (They give you a reason to crush opposition.)

    • Use a swift & cruel governor to unite unruly portions of the empire, then, temper that man's authority by adding council. (Note: This leans toward the rule of law. - CJG) After peace has been restored, execute the governor so you don't take the blame for the cruelty.

    <Mach reviews some history here>

    VII Wicked Ascension

    • Agothocles, a Sicilian potter's son, set his mind to become prince and resolved “...to seize by violence, without obligation to others, that which had been conceded to him by assent.”

      • Recently, Hillary handed Obama the democratic party nomination by assent. She appeared to be doing him a favor by endorsing him and handing him her voters. However, something conceded to someone by assent is not necessarily earned. If he doesn't (and he didn't) earn the votes of the women, then he has them under obligation to Hillary. Also, we have seen that these votes were stolen from him when McCain nominated Senator Palin for Vice President

      • Wicked methods for seizing by violence that which was conceded.

        • The Methods

          • Slaying fellow citizens

          • Deceiving friends

          • being without faith, mercy, or religion

        • Gain you empire without glory

      • Personal note. Mach is not advocating wicked methods. In my analysis above, I make it seem as though Obama should have seized “by violence” (or earned) the votes that Sen. Clinton gave him. This is not what Mach is showing. So, some further study is needed.

      • Evil deeds are tolerable only in the interest of security. Just be judicious about it.

        • Examine the injuries you need to inflict and do them all in one stroke.

        • Decrease the injuries over time. They should not be constant or increasing.

        • Slowly begin to eek out benefits little by little.

        • Be consistent in your behavior. (BRANDING!) Don't let circumstances change your behavior.

          • A Sudden display of harshness is too little too late.

          • A Sudden release of benefits makes them appear to be forced from you.

    IX pusillanimity – being timid, unresolved, cowardly

    • Bind your nobles to your fortune. If the nobles are with you, they will win the people.

    • Mach seems to categorize nobles at this point.

      • Bold nobles who are not bound to your fortune are to be considered enemies.

      • Fearful nobles who are not bound are useful, but it is not clear in what sense.

      • Nice nobles who are bound to your fortune can be considered as friends

      • Rapacious nobles who are bound to your fortune are an unknown factor. (Study to see if you missed it – CJG)

    • NOTE: Don't expect the people to come to your aid, but expect the people to rebel if you repress them.

    • Make the citizens dependent on you. (Co-dependent?)

    • Watch out for magistrates. The people get used to taking orders from them instead of from you. They gain the loyalty of the people.

    1. People are bound as much by what they confer as by what they receive.

    2. ?

    3. Foundation for keeping your kingdom

      1. Good laws

      2. Strong arms

      3. Mach says strong arms lead to good laws. (I challenge this because we have examples of kingdoms with lousy laws but strong arms, so not sure where he gets this ~ CJG)

      4. Arms

        1. Watch out for Merks. They are all bravado and no substance. (Hype!)

        2. You can defend your kingdom with a mixture of personal arms and merks.

        3. You MUST have your own army.

        4. In a republic, the citizens MUST fight.

        5. If merks get too strong, they tend to turn on their masters.

    4. Auxiliaries

      1. Using auxiliaries is bad because if they lose, you lose. If they win, you are their captive. (It is not clear what Mach means by Auxiliaries. It might be help from another prince. Webster seems to concur. ~CJG)

      2. It occurs to me that a prince might use auxiliaries against a minor foe. The end being to weaken the prince providing the auxiliaries. Remuneration comes in the form of plunder from the minor foe.

      3. A real victory is not gained with the arms of others.

        1. Maintain your own military by any means.

        2. Command loyalty

    5. Primary Education Objective – War, Its rules, and discipline

      1. War should continually be in a prince's thoughts

      2. Peace time is a time for action and study

        1. Know the terrain by experiencing it.

        2. In action, you will also come to know the terrain of other countries.

      3. Study

        1. Read history

        2. Imitate the greats

    6. Base your actions on how people live, not on how people ought to live.

      1. Know when it is necessary to do wrong.

      2. Examine carefully virtues and vices

        1. Avoid vices that will cause you to lose your state.

        2. Some virtues may lead to ruin while some vices may lead to security and prosperity.

        3. It appears to me (CJG) that Mach is trying to say that morality, while praiseworthy, is not to be considered when making state decisions. Consider only what will keep your state. Note however, that some Bible cases show that while making the right moral decision may cause the loss of a kingdom for a time, but will bring about a greater kingdom later. That said, there are cases where wholesale slaughter has been the decision of great Bible leaders. So, weighing Mach's point of view against the Bible bears consideration.

    7. Liberty leads either to being impoverished & despised or rapacious & hated. Because, you end up giving everything away. Since a prince should avoid being despised or hated, institute a practice of “meanness”. (Be a tightwad.) This brings reproach without hatred because you have enough to attack & defend but you aren't filling everyone's wishes.

      It is quite alright to spend other people's money wontonly (gains from pillaging, etc.) because it gives you a reputation for liberality without reducing your own coffers.

      On the way to becoming a prince, buy your way up with liberality, but end that practice immediately after reaching the top.

    8. It is better to be considered clement than cruel, but don't overdo it. Too much mercy leads to murders, robbers, etc.

      Maintain a proper balance between mistrust & confidence. Be loved and feared or only be feared but not hated. Do not be loved only. Men tend to have less trouble betraying one loved than they do one feared.

      Don't touch the property and women of the citizens. Men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. Taking property is too easy and becomes addictive. Taking a life requires justification and so will happen less.

    9. Keeping the faith (keeping your word)
      • 2 ways of contesting. by law & by force
        • by law is proper
        • by force is a method that is not fit for a beast.
      • Prince must learn to use the beast in himself. Choose the fox and the lion.
        • the lion represents raw power
        • the fox represents cunning
      • If the reason which caused you to pledge your word no longer exists, you are not bound by it.
      • It is not necessary to have good qualities so much as it is to appear to have them.
      • For the most part, be merciful, faithful, humane, religious, and upright, but know how to be the opposite of these things if it is necessary. But, never speak the opposite.
    10. Avoid being hated and comtemptable What inspires hatred?
      1. Rapaciousness
      2. Violating property and women
      3. Fickleness
      4. Frivolity
      5. Being Effeminate
      6. Mean-spiritedness
      7. Irresolute behavior
      Instead, show the following:
      1. Greatness
      2. Courage
      3. Gravity
      4. Fortitude
      5. Resolve
      Fears
      1. Internal
        1. Conspiracy
        2. To mitigate this, have satisfied citizens and don't be hated.
      2. External
        1. Enemies
        2. To mitigate this, have armies and allies.

      Leave the affairs of reproach to others while you do those of grace.

      Love the nobles, but not to the point of offending the people.

      Three things to fight against:

      1. The ambition of the nobles.
      2. The insolence of the people.
      3. The averice and cruelty of the soldiers.
        • The people want peace.
        • The soldiers want war.

      Note however, that if you must have one of these groups hate you, be hated by the least powrful of them. (This is probably true in general ~CJG)

      Here, Machiavelli seems to run through a litany of former leaders.

      • Marcus Aurelius – Top notch example of an emperor.
      • Commodius – Rapacious. (As were Severus, Antonius Caracalla, and Maximinus)
      • Pertinax – Too good to the people. Too old.
      • Alexander – Just, but too effeminate.
      • Severus – Cruel and rapacious, but full of valor. kept the soldiers respectful and the people awed. Understood the concept of the fox and the lion mentioned earlier.

      Advice: Do no grave injuries to those around you.

      Advice: Be careful which hero you choose to immitate. If you fail to measure up properly, or if the conditions ar edifferent, you may fail utterly. Instead take those admirable pieces from each hero and apply them as you can and as is fit in the situation.

    11. Fortifying your Kingdom
      1. It is hard to say if specific actions are of general value. Most specific actions lie in the context of other circumstances that determine their value.
      2. Arm your own country. Disarm your acquisitions. If there are acquisitions that helped you, don't quite disarm them, but soften them.
      3. Dividing a city into factions is generally bad during war. It might be acceptable during peace, but not war.
      4. Foster enemies so that when you crush them, you rise higher in the eyes of the people.
      5. Regarding newly acquired kingdoms beware of those that helped you to power.
        • If they helped you out of a desire to have you as prince, then there will be no problem
        • If they helped you out of discontent for ousting the existing government you will have a tough time pleasing them.
        • If there are those who opposed you at the outset but need you, they will be won over easily and will be loyal.
      6. The usefulness of fortresses depends on circumstances but having a fortress is irrelevant if you don't have the will of the people.
    12. Gaining Renown
      1. Be a fine example.
      2. Perform great deeds or engage in great enterprises.
        • Keep the people preoccupied with your adventures and efforts.
        • These must be of noble purpose.
        • It keeps them steadily working against you. (Huh? - CJG)
      3. Punish and reward extraordinary things with great and remarkable deeds. Be creative.
      4. Be resolute.
        • Be an absolute and true friend—not fickle.
        • Be a ruthless and unforgiving enemy—not wishy-washy.
      5. When two powerful neighbors fight, side with one of them.
        • If you don't both will perceive you as the enemy.
        • It is okay to ally with someone less powerful than yourself.
      6. Recognize ability. (Recognize the guilds (unions))
      7. Allow the people to pursue wealth and expansion
      8. Throw big parties.
      9. Maintain the majest of the rank. Never consent to abate in anything.
    13. Servants
      • Choose faithful and capable servants
      • Recognize the good and the bad. Praise the former. Correct the latter so they cannot deceive you. (Interesting - CJG)
      • Any servant who serves his own interests more than yours cannot be trusted.
      • Honor the good servant but let him see that without you he cannot stand.
        • Study and Enrich him.
        • Do kindness to him.
        • Share with him.
    14. Flatterers
      • Avoid them, but know that it is difficult to.
      • Maintain a balance between being open enough to receive the truth but closed enough so your men don't become contemptuous.
      • Choose a select, wise group who may (or even must) speak the truth to you.
      • Be resolute–not swayed by the opinions of many.
      • Take counsel at your own discretion often.
      • Wise Counsel: It is not necessarily true that the counsel makes the prince, but rather the opposite.
        • Assume that each counsellor serves his own interest.
        • Conclude that the counsel is never united.
        • Assume that an inexperienced prince cannot unite them.
        • Ergo: Good counsel comes from the wisdom of the prince.
    15. Why Do Princes Fail?

      Princes fail because they forget the people and tend to rest on their past accomplishments. People are more interested in the present than the past. Keep the people comfortable with good laws, well protected with a good army, have good allies, and be a good example.

      Keep the people friendly to the prince.

    16. Fortune

      We have about half control over our own actions. Our lives are not left entirely to chance. We can hedge against chance.

      The successful prince will conform his methods to the times. If times and conditions change, change your methods accordingly. This is difficult in general. Know that it is better to be adventurous than cautious.

    17. Liberate Italy

      This last section seems to be a plea to liberate Italy from its current rule. Not sure, didn't take notes ~CJG