The Morals of a Prince (Precis)

Niccolò Machiavelli wrote “The Morals of a Prince” (1513), which asserts that the ideal prince who can keep his subjects united and loyal is not “prince charming” from Disney fairy tales, but rather a man who knows when to lie, when to be cruel, and when to be feared – but not hated. Machiavelli uses evidence from historically famous rulers such as Pope Julius II, Caesar, and Alexander to back up his claims on stinginess, whether to be loved or hated, and how Princes should keep their word. He uses these historical examples in order to educate the next prince on how to stay in power. In “The Morals of a Prince”, Niccolò Machiavelli is advising the future prince on how to stay in power and how to reunite Italy after a long period of warring states.