mercoledì, giugno 22, 2005
:: Book Review: 'The Prince' by Niccolò Machiavelli ::Interesting insight: (in the form of quotations, not gonna analyse it here though. heh heh heh... )
How cities or principalities which lived under their own laws should be administered after being conquered: 'When states newly acquired as I said have been accustomed to living freely under their own laws, there are three ways to hold them securely: first, by devastating them; next, by going and living there in person; thirdly, by letting them keep their own laws, exacting tribute, and setting up an oligarchy which will keep the state friendly to you.
- it was mentioned that when a new prince takes over, he should wipe out ALL the family members of the ex-rulers... depending on the nature of governance in tt kingdom, he should then govern as suited. eg. if the people are used to freedom, then he should establish laws, tribute and so on... then there are other examples, some using settlements as the basic way of maintaining control over the area, others, require annihilation of all the people there or simply have the prince settle there.
'One must never allow disorder to continue so as to escape a war. Anyhow one does not escape: the war is merely posponed to one's disadvantage.'
'Whoever believes that with great men new services wipe out old injuries deceives himself.'
'Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually, so in that way they will taste better. Above all, a prince must live with his subjects in such a way that no development, either favourable or adverse, makes him vary his conduct. For, when adversity brings the need for it, there is no time to inflict harm; and the favours he may confer are profitless, because they are seen as being forced, and so they earn no thanks.'
'When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor...'
'David offered Saul to go and fight Goliath, the Philistine champion, and Saul, to inspire him with courage, gave him his own weapons and armour. Having tried these on, David rejected them, saying that he would be unable to fight well with them and therefore he wanted to face the enemy with his sling and his knife. In short, armour belonging to someone else either drops off you or weighs you down or is too tight.'
- moral: to achieve our own ends with what we own... or what is really ours. rather than wht is bought/borrowed.
'A wise prince must observe these rules; he must never take things easy in times of peace, but rather use the latter assiduously, in order to be able to reap the profit in times of adversity. Then, when his fortunes change, he will be found ready to resist adversity.'
- yay! this is what i've always believed in.
'Men worry less about doing an injury to one who makes himself loved than to one who makes himself feared. For love is secured by a bond of gratitude which men, wretched creatures that they are, break when it is to their advantage to do so; but fear is strengthened by a dread of punishment which is always effective.'
- is tt why we've got all those fines in sg? hahaha...
'There is no doubt that a prince's greatness depends on his triumphing over difficulties and opposition. So fortune, especially when she wants to build up the greatness of a new prince, whose need to acquire standing is more pressing than that of a hereditary ruler, finds enemies for him and encourages them to take the field against him, so that he may have cause to triumph over them and ascend higher on the ladder his foes have provided. Many, therefore, believe that when he has the chance an able prince should cunningly foster some opposition to himself so that by overcoming it he can enhance his own stature.'
'A prince also wins prestige for being a true friend or a true enemy, that is, for revealing himself without any reservation in favour of one side against another. This policy is always more advantageous than neutrality. for instance, if the powers neighbouring on you come to blows, either they are such that, if one of them conquers, you will be in danger, or they are not. In either case it will always be to your advantage to declar yourself and to wage a vigorous war; because, in the first case, if you do not declare yourself you will always be at the mercy of the conqueror, much to the pleasure and satisfaction of the one who has been beaten, and you will have no justification nor any way to obtain protection or refuge. The conqueror does not want doubtful friends who do not help him when he is in difficulties; the loser repudiates you because you were unwilling to go, arms in hand, and throw in your lot with him.'
- yea i really learned something useful from this paragraph. hmm...
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