Niccolò Machiavelli

PEOPLE | 1469 - 1527

Niccolò Machiavelli, a 16th-century Italian diplomat and political thinker, his name has become synonymous with shrewdness, cunning, intrigue, control, power, sinister methods, underhandedness, deviousness, scheming, subtlety, nefariousness, manipulation, and a degree of cruelty.

For centuries, he was known as the Antichrist, and his name has been evoked by scheming literary characters, such as Shakespeare's Duke of Gloucester. Despite this reputation, his statue stands in Florence alongside other Italian greats, and his most famous work is The Prince.

Life and Historical Context 

Born in Florence in 1469, Machiavelli received an extensive formal education, as his father was a lawyer. He lived during a chaotic period in Italy, where Florence was a city-state navigating constantly shifting alliances with other city-states.

After the Medici Family was deposed, Machiavelli served the new regime as a high-flying diplomat at the Palazzo Vecchio. His ability as a political analyst enabled his advancement, placing him at the centre of diplomatic and political negotiations.

However, when the Medici returned to power, Machiavelli's career took a dramatic turn.

In February 1513, he was falsely accused of participating in an anti-Medici conspiracy, horribly tortured, and then imprisoned. Though there is no evidence of his involvement, he endured three notches on the rack without cracking. A stroke of good fortune occurred the following month with the death of Pope Julius II and the acquisition of the papacy by the Medici, Leo X, who declared an amnesty. Machiavelli was freed but banned from Florence and placed under house arrest at his farmhouse in San Casciano, ten miles south of Florence. It was there, in his study, that he began writing The Prince.

Despite the enduring influence of his writings, Machiavelli was, in many ways, a political failure in his own time. The Prince, begun in 1513 with a dedication to Lorenzo the Magnificent, was a blatant attempt to gain favour with the new Medici regime and secure a job. However, Lorenzo reportedly never read it, and Machiavelli never regained his position. He died in 1527 at the age of 58, five years before The Prince was published. Ironically, Machiavelli himself did not appear to be Machiavellian in his personal life.

The Prince: Core Teachings 

The Prince, one of Machiavelli's two principal works (the other being The Discourses), was originally an untitled manuscript. Editors later gave it its published title five years after his death. The book is remarkably concise, running to only 90 pages, and was intended as a guide or handbook for politically ambitious leaders.

It argues that for a ruler to maintain his position, it is necessary to learn how to be able not to be good. Machiavelli states that his work departs massively from previous writings on the subject, acknowledging its revolutionary nature.

Central to The Prince is a pragmatic view of human nature. Men are described as ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers; they shun danger and are greedy for profit. Given that men are wicked and often unwilling to keep their word, a prudent ruler cannot always keep his own promises when it would be to his disadvantage.

A recurring theme is the question of whether it is better to be loved or feared. Machiavelli concludes that while a leader would ideally be both, it is far safer to be feared. The bond of love is easily broken when it benefits men to do so, but fear is strengthened by the dread of punishment, which is always effective. Fear provides a stable emotional foundation for power.

Machiavelli famously advises that a prince must be a fox to spot the snares and a lion to overwhelm the wolves. Those who rely solely on the lion's strength do not understand this. Foxiness, however, should be well concealed; one must be a great fainer and dissembler, as a deceiver will always find someone willing to be deceived.

He argues that vices and virtues are tools for survival, and a ruler who insists on acting honourably while surrounded by unscrupulous men will inevitably face downfall.

A notable aspect of The Prince is its silence on religious considerations. Machiavelli pays no attention to the day of judgment or the idea that sins will find one out, viewing such beliefs as childish superstition. And only heading the earthly realm, he only saw that goodness is not necessarily rewarded on this plane of existence.

Enduring Legacy and Modern Relevance 

Machiavelli's insights into power are still remarkably relevant today, serving as a practical guide for contemporary reality. The Prince has inspired many powerful and tyrannical leaders throughout history, including Napoleon, Stalin, Mussolini, Henry Kissinger, and Nixon. Its themes are deeply embedded in modern political discourse and popular culture.

Contemporary Machiavellian figures:

Political Leaders: 

Tony Blair's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, wrote The New Machiavelli on wielding power in the modern world, citing Blair's strategic use of information and tough decision-making as examples.

Leaders like Bill Clinton, Angela Merkel, and David Cameron are seen as "political animals" who inherently understand the laws of power. Margaret Thatcher is regarded as a prime example of a Machiavellian leader, often feared rather than loved by her cabinet.

Business: 

The "crush your enemy" dynamic is evident in business, such as Microsoft's dominance over Netscape or Google's acquisition of competitors like YouTube.

Modern corporations, despite pleasant public appearances, can operate with Machiavellian subtlety in their data gathering and global presence. Business leaders, such as Hillary Devey of Dragon's Den, explicitly align their principles with Machiavelli's, prioritising commercial decisions over immediate compassion.

Pop Culture: 

The hit series House of Cards (both the UK and US versions) explores Machiavellian political machinations. George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones, acknowledges absorbing lessons from The Prince, particularly the idea that being a good person is insufficient for effective rule; vile acts may be necessary for the realm's good. The ruthless music industry is also a pretty Machiavellian environment, influencing figures like Tupac Shakur and 50 Cent.

Strategic Thinking: 

Strategic thinking, such as that employed by football manager Alex Ferguson, is identified as a Machiavellian trait.

Appearances: 

Machiavelli's observation that appearances matter significantly, with rulers needing to project qualities like mercy and integrity while relying on results to impress, is applied in various contexts, including corporate behaviour and Hollywood.

Fortune and Virtù: 

Success in power is influenced by luck (Fortuna), a capricious turn of events, but can be dominated by virtù, qualities like courage and prudence. Tony Blair's rise to leadership, following John Smith's sudden death, is one example of seizing fortuna.

Psychological studies, using the "Machiavelli test" developed in the 1960s, indicate that men generally score higher in Machiavellianism than women, and that it tends to peak in adolescence, irrespective of political orientation.

Despite his controversial reputation, Machiavelli is viewed as a cultural icon who exposed the nature of power and human behaviour. Some interpret him as a moralist who judges actions by their consequences, justifying harsh measures for the security of the state.

This perspective, however, can be seen as reflecting a despairing view of human nature, where trust, collaboration, and kindness are absent. The Catholic Church banned The Prince for two centuries, saying it was incompatible with Christian ethics, yet it remains one of the most translated Italian books globally, alongside Dante's Comedy and Collodi's Pinocchio.

Machiavelli ultimately favoured republics and "new princes" who rose through their own energy, and his work ironically exposes the very tricks it describes, making its lessons accessible to all.