Anything to Succeed

            To rule a successful empire, a prince needs to be smart, cunning, compassionate, cruel, and sometimes treacherous us.  You cannot always be “the good guy” and act nice.  It takes work to make success and it is impossible to always be nice.  Sometimes you need to be clever and do what supposedly isn’t ethically right, but do what is right for your empire.  If you have to kill a man in cold blood for your empire to survive, then it must be done.

            In the novel The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, Machiavelli says, “Hence it is necessary to be a prince, if he wants to maintain himself, to learn to be able not to be good, and to use this and not use it according to necessity” (Page 50).  Machiavelli is saying that in order to be successful, a prince needs to know that he can’t always be kind.  “This is because if your generosity is good and sincere it may pass unnoticed and it will not save you from being reproached for its opposite” (Page 51).  A prince can’t just be kind and compassionate; he needs to possess a variety of skills and character traits.  A prince needs to be kind and cruel.  This means that you have to adapt to the situation at hand.  For example, if one of your citizens is plotting to dethrone you, then you must make an example of your cruelty.  A prince should find that citizen and publically torture or kill the citizen.  Sometimes, a prince needs to show his power so that everyone will be kept in line.     

            Allies are not always good to have.  An ally will come to the rescue, but expect something in return.  If a prince is too nice, then he might be overtaken by his own allies.  If a prince has a reputation of being too kind, then he may be overrun by his enemies.  You must keep your allies below you.  Your allies must know that you control more power than them.  It is better to be feared than loved by your allies.  If your allies fear you, then they know that you hold the power to destroy them.  Therefore, they will be quick to answer your call.  On the other hand, their fear must not lead to hatred.  If their fear becomes hatred, then you no longer have allies, but dangerous enemies.

  Mercenaries can be treated as allies, but you must be cautious.  Mercenaries are not loyal like some allies might be.  Mercenaries should be used efficiently than disposed of before they gain power.  “Mercenary commanders are either skilled in warfare or they are not:  if they are, you cannot trust them, because they are anxious to advance their own greatness, either by coercing you, their employer, or by coercing others against your own wishes” (Page 41).  This means you need to learn how not to be good so that you can dispose of the ones who helped you.  Even though the mercenaries helped you, they are not friends.  If a prince is too nice to mercenaries, he will be quickly controlled by them.  They are trying to gain power like you, so if you don’t dispose of them, they might destroy you.   As a prince, you cannot take the chances of being overpowered. 

If a prince had a choice to always be good or to always be evil, which would be a better choice?  Should a prince always have compassion and kindness for other or should he be cruel and cunning?  The correct answer would be neither.  In order to succeed, a prince cannot have a single minded approach to anything.  If a prince approaches every situation always being nice, or always being evil, then he will be conquered, overthrown, or killed.  Diversity is the key.  A prince must have diverse skills to be great.  If a prince was a cruel leader, than he would quickly turn into a dictator.  Dictators never last for long periods of time.  If a prince was a nice leader, than he would be overrun by his own allies, his enemies, or perhaps his own nobility.  Although, if a prince really had to pick whether to be nice or cruel, than he should choose to be a cruel leader.  “So a prince must not worry if he incurs reproach for his cruelty so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal” (Page 53).  The biggest challenge is keep you citizens loyal.  If your citizens are loyal enough to die for you, then you are doing your job well.    

What is really at stake?  When you are a prince, you are cruel or nice or compassionate to keep your principality under control.  Your biggest worry should be losing your power.  That is what really is at stake.  You should always be cautious of losing your power.  If you are cautious, you will make not make rash decisions.  A prince’s greatest weapon must be his intelligent.  Without it, he will fail quickly.  A prince’s reputation for success must be built up.  If a prince is known for having successful campaigns, then he will be loved and praised by his people. 

 Diversity is the key word.  If a prince has many qualities and can adapt to different situations than he will be fine.  He must learn how to be able not to be good.  He must know when to be compassionate and when to be cruel.  He must be sly and cunning.  He must sometimes kill the ones who helped him.  A prince must never rely on an ally’s arms or mercenary arms.  He must rely on himself and the loyalty of his people.  Most of all, a prince must rely on his own intelligence during times of despair.  If a prince is diverse, that prince will be truly great.