`The Prince: A
Guide to Power
Machiavelli’s The Prince is a timeless guide to acquiring and
maintaining power. It offers practical advice on how to rule
effectively, even if it means acting against traditional moral
values.
By Laiba Ilyas
The book can be divides in two parts
Part One Chapter [1-14] Part Two Chapter [15-26]))
• Principalities • Resonance [Deep and Strong Tone]
• Holding Power • Relevance
• Organizing Troops • Notoriety [Immoral]
Dedicatory Letter
A Humble Gift
Machiavelli offers Lorenzo de' Medici his knowledge of
how great leaders behave as a gift.
Important Matters
Machiavelli emphasizes that his work is not adorned with
fancy language or elaborate praise, but is written
plainly, focusing on important political matters.
Types of Principalities
Hereditary Principalities New Principalities
• Hereditary principality is a type of state • A new principality is a state entirely new
where the ruler inherits power from a long to a ruler, founded or taken over without
line of ancestors, typically within the same being part of their previous territory.
• family or dynasty.
These are easier to maintain. • New territories are harder to control.
• Even if the ruler loses power, it’s easier to • Machiavelli gives examples of the French
regain control later because the people king Louis XII, who quickly took control of
are still loyal to the family. Milan but lost it just as fast.
Mixed Principalities
1 Similar Customs 2 Different Customs
If the conquered state is culturally similar to If the state is culturally different, the prince
the conquering one, it’s easier to keep control. must either live in the state or establish
colonies.
3 Roman Example 4 Louis XII’s Mistakes
The Romans succeeded in maintaining control Machiavelli uses the example of Louis XII of
over their conquests by following these France to show how ignoring these strategies
principles. led to failure.
How Cities or Principalities Which Lived by Their
Own Laws before They Were Occupied Should Be
Administered
Ruin Them Destroy the state completely.
Go There to Live The prince must live in
the conquered state to
address issues directly.
Let Them Live by Their Laws The prince takes tribute
and creates an
Oligarchical state ruled by
a few powerful individuals
to maintain control.
Darius' Kingdom
Centralized States
States ruled by a single powerful ruler, like Darius
in Persia, are easier to control.
Decentralized States
States with powerful nobles, like France, are harder
to control because nobles have their own power
and influence.
Darius' Kingdom
Darius' Persia was centralized, so Alexander’s
successors found it easy to hold onto it.
Ruling through Virtue and Army
Moses Romulus
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt and Romulus was rejected in his home city of
suffering under the harsh rule of the Alba, so he decided to found a new city,
Egyptians. which became Rome.
1 2 3 4
Cyrus Theseus
The Persians were unhappy with being The people of Athens were scattered and
controlled by the Medes, who had ruled unorganized, facing many problems.
them for a long time.
Cesare Borgia
Gaining Power
Cesare Borgia became powerful because his father, Pope Alexander VI, used his influence to help him.
Cesare Borgia
Cesare was strategic and ruthless. He placed a cruel governor named Remirro de
Orco in Romagna.
Eliminating Rivals
Cesare Borgia aimed to kill off the families of lords he had defeated, so they
couldn’t reclaim power.
Organizing Troops
Mercenary Soldiers Auxiliary Soldier
Of Those Things for Which Men and Especially Princes Are Praised or Blamed
1 Realism vs Idealism
" I have thought it proper to represent things, as they are in real truth
rather then as they are imagined."
2 Virtutis vs Vice
• Virtutis refers to qualities that are seen as good, like kindness or honesty.
• Vice refers to qualities seen as bad, like cruelty or deceit.
3 Prince Image
• Machiavelli argues that sometimes what seems like a vice can actually lead to success, while what
seems like a virtutis can cause harm. Therefore, a prince should be willing to embrace vice if it
helps him secure his power and position.
Liberality and Parsimony
Liberality [Generosity] Parsimony [being Frugal or Singy]
Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than Fea
• Cruelty is necessary • Machiavelli concludes • Although it’s better to
to maintain order, by saying that because be feared, the prince
especially for new love is based on must avoid being
rulers and in times of people’s convenience • hated.
A prince should avoid
• war.
Mercy can lead to and can be easily touching the property
disorder if overused, broken, a prince should and women of his
while fear ensures rely more on fear, subjects, as these are
discipline which is under his the things that people
control. care about most.
In What Mode Faith Should Be Kept by Princes
Honesty is Praiseworthy, 1
but Not Always Practical
2 The Fox and the Lion Metaphor
Appearances Matter More 3
Than Reality
In What Mode Flatterers Are to Be Avoided
The Danger of Flatterers How to Avoid Flattery How a Prince Should
Take Advice
Flatterers are a big problem for A prince should carefully
princes because they tell the choose a small group of trusted The prince should ask for their
prince what he wants to hear, counselors who can speak the opinions but make his own
not the truth. truth when asked. decisions.
Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States
Lack of Preparation Lack of Army
"A common failing of mankind [is] never to Second cause was that Italy don't have its own
anticipate a storm when sea is calm" loyal army to protect itself.
Exhortation to Seize Italy and to Free Her from
the Barbarians
Italy's Desperation
Petrarch's words:
A Call to the Medici Family
"Virtue will take up arms
against fury, and make the
battle short, because the
The Need for a Strong Italian Army
ancient valor in Italian hearts is
not yet dead"
A Perfect Time for a New Leader
Thank You
Feel free to ask anything!
