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Note: This is a review of the Barnes & Noble Classics The Prince and Other Writings, translated by Wayne Rebhorn. This review is limited to just The Prince which is perhaps the most famous of Machiavelli's writings.
Where could I even begin to start? The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is the playbook, the instruction manual, the end-and-be-all how-to guide for politicians looking to better themselves and/or maintain power by the manipulation of society. It is at once disheartening, and a relief, to know some things (even the exact same things!) never change.
Much like the illuminating Screwtape, Machiavelli’s instructions on how to maintain power do much more to enlighten us on human nature, in fact, showing just how much we desire to be oppressed, therefore making tyranny that much easier to create. Take the following three paragraphs from Chapter 3 for example:
“…men change rulers willingly, hoping to better their lot, and this belief makes them take arms against their ruler, but in this they are deceived, as their experience shows that things have become worse.”
A clear indictment against modern voters who have no sense of history, and who in fact will vote for whoever promises them, as individuals, more freebies from the public coffers.
“Thus you will find enemies in all those whom you have injured by occupying that principality, and you cannot maintain the friendship of those who have helped put you there, since you will not be able to satisfy them as they expected, nor can you treat them with strong medicine, since you are obligated to them.”
Clearly the problem with special interest groups and campaign donors.
“…when lands that have reblled are re-taken, they are not lost again so easily, for the ruler, now using the rebellion as a pre-text, is less averse to secure his position by punishing offenders, clarifying suspicions, and strengthening himself in his weakest places.”
Incumbents tend to stay in power purely because they are in a position to demonize opposition parties and use the machinery of government to hold power.
The whole of The Prince is just as quotable and just as illuminating. Take the following quote as a good allegory for the Primaries, Media bias, PACs, and so on in US politics:
“…when the nobility see that they cannot resist the people, they start directing their support toward one of their won and make him prince, so that, under his protective shade, they can satisfy their appetite. The people, also, seeing that they cannot resist the nobility, start giving their support to one of their own and make him prince in order to be defended by his authority.”
Machiavelli’s observations also make a strong argument in favor of the 2nd Amendment:
“For, between an armed man and an unarmed one there is no comparison whatsoever, and it is not reasonable that one who is armed should willingly obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed one would be safe among armed servants.”
I could easily spend this entire essay quoting Machiavelli, such is the nature of his wit and insight. Let me just encourage you to read it on your own, for when you do, you will never trust a politician of any side, ever again. You will recognize with ease the very same guidance Machiavelli gave the Prince, as the Politician will try to use on you. The Prince is a primer for critical thinking in politics and society.
