‘Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are’.

This is one of the

famous quotes from the titled book The Prince, by Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, a 16th

century Florentine political philosopher, musician, poet, and playwright (Goodreads, 2022).

Known widely as Niccolò Machiavelli, he was exposed at an early age to classical authors and

their doctrines, both Greek and Latin, by studying his father’s texts. As such he was influenced

by the likes of Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, and Ptolemy – all Greek authors. Some of

the notable Latin authors that he read were Plautus, Terence, Caesar, Virgil, Lucretius, Tibullus,

and Livy.

At the age of 29, having no prior political experience, Machiavelli was appointed to the

Chancery. In addition, he was also appointed to serve as Secretary to the Ten, the committee on

war (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d.). Machiavelli would continue to rise politically,

and in 1502, after constitutional reform, Piero Soderini would emerge as gonfaloniere. This was

the holder of a highly prestigious communal office in medieval and Renaissance Florence, who

would task Machiavelli with creating a militia to nullify the news for foreign mercenaries. The

militia would eventually be defeated in 1512, and Machiavelli’s tenure for the Florentine

government ending, as the Medici return (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d.).

Machiavelli, like most, would taste the sweet and sour of life, as the sweetness of his time with

the Florentine government, would be followed by some spells of bad luck, hardship, and a fall

from grace. Still, he would find the inherent motivation to write some of his finest and popular

philosophical books, such as The Prince. He would die in June of 1527. One of the most

fundamental ideas of Machiavelli is virtue, or skill. He felt these tools would.

Machiavelli was born, lived and impacted the Renaissance period. This was a time characterized

by growth, advances in science, tech and innovation. The discovery of new continents and

expansion of knowledge. Renaissance, which can be translated to rebirth brought about

regeneration of ideas and adoption of novel ideologies. It was primarily a time of the revival of

Classical learning from Roman and Greek antiquities. The period was also marked with an

appreciation for fine art, especially painting and sculpture, and boasted some of the great artistes

in da Vinci and Michaelangelo.

‘If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be

feared’. Another quote of Machiavelli. It would seem like he had sinister and dark intentions

underlying his philosophy. Many believe his works, particularly The Prince are powerful tools

for autocrats and despots alike, as they draw on his malignant theories and ideas to oppress and

dominate others. ‘Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception’, is perhaps an

example of Machiavelli’s cunning and maligned sayings which benefits oppressors. Or so people

perceive. This is one of the reasons I find this great philosopher interesting – the controversial

views he stood for which, like it or not, do hold some ground. It’s no wonder his successors are

so deeply influenced by his ideas and echo his thought. ‘Bacon, Descartes, Spinoza, Bayle,

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Smith, Montesquieu, Fichte, Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche

number among those whose ideas ring with the echo of Machiavelli’s thought’ (Internet

Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d.). I find some truths in his sayings and draw inspiration from his

ideas.

‘The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One

must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves’ (Goodreads, n.d.). This
is a quote I can readily resonate with and agree to. The depth of the wisdom behind these words

is profound. This saying really doesn’t have a sinister meaning attached to it. It merely

emphasizes a truth – people ought to be smart and bold at the right times. It’s a cold, hard world

out there, and you’re either wolf or sheep, no hybrid. To ascend in life, as well as prosper, along

with your loved ones, one must be shrewd, smart and strong. That’s the reality of life. And in

some ways, Machiavelli just stressed these realities without stuttering. Bold acclamations he

made, not they hold water. People just couldn’t reconcile with the cold truths he dished out.

They couldn’t handle it. But he said it as it was. He was a realist. Further examples of his

realistic assertions include:

• The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has

around him.

• Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

• All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible),

but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of

sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.

• A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those

who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will

get some tinge of it.

These sayings all hold weight and are practical. In spite of how people feel, these thoughts

are the truths of the matter, and should better be held unto.
References

1. Niccolò Machiavelli quotes. (N.d.). Goodreads. Retrieved from

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/16201.Niccol_Machiavelli#:~:text=%E2%80

%9CEveryone%20sees%20what%20you%20appear,experience%20what%20you%20real

ly%20are.%E2%80%9D&text=%E2%80%9CIf%20an%20injury%20has%20to,vengeanc

e%20need%20not%20be%20feared.%E2%80%9D&text=%E2%80%9CThe%20lion%20

cannot%20protect%20himself,cannot%20defend%20himself%20from%20wolves.

2. Niccolò Machiavelli (1469—1527). (N.d.). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Retrieved from https://iep.utm.edu/machiave/#SH1b