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Handout - Academic Paper in Soc Sci 2
Handout - Academic Paper in Soc Sci 2
Handout - Academic Paper in Soc Sci 2
“A prince must have no other objective, no other
(Full Name: Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli) thought, nor take up any profession but that of
war, its methods and its discipline, for that is the
Biography only art expected of a ruler. And it is of such
______________________ great value that it not only keeps hereditary
______________________ princes in power, but often raises men of lowly
______________________ condition to that rank.” (Chapter XIV, The
______________________ Prince)
______________________
4. “For although the act condemns the doer, the
______________________
end may justify him…” ( Book I: Chapter 9,
______________________
Discourses on Livy)
______________________
______________________ 5. “A new prince in a city or province of which he
______________________ has taken possession, ought to make everything
new.” (Book I: Chapter 26, Discourses on Livy)
Historical Context 6. “No well-ordered State ever strikes a balance
→ great political conflict because of warring city states between the services of its citizens and their
→ corruption was rampant to gain power misdeeds; but appointing rewards for good
→ city states were “nations” in themselves led by actions and punishment for bad, when it has
oligarchic families rewarded a man for acting well, will afterwards,
→ thus, italy was ”leaderless, lawless, crushed, should he act ill, chastise him, without regard to
despoiled, torn, and overrun” his former deserts.“ (Book I: Chapter 24,
→ medieval idea of “divine kingship” was still present in Discourses on Livy)
the early Renaissance
7. “No proceeding is better than that which you
Famous Works have concealed from the enemy until the time
1. The Prince you have executed it.” (Book VII, The Art of War)
2. Discourses on Livy
8. “It is better to defeat the enemy by hunger than
3. The Art of War
by steel; in such victory fortune counts more
4. Florentine Histories
than prowess.” (Book VII, The Art of War)
5. The Life of Castruccio Castracani
9. “Whoever is more vigilant in observing the
Famous Philosophies designs of the enemy in war, and endures much
1. “Here a question arises: whether it is better to hardship in training his army, will incur fewer
be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer dangers, and can have greater hope for victory.”
is, of course, that it would be best to be both (Book VII, The Art of War)
loved and feared. But since the two rarely come
together, anyone compelled to choose will find 10. “Be not deceived about that antiquity of blood
greater security in being feared than in being by which they exalt themselves above us; for all
loved. . . . Love endures by a bond which men, men having had one common origin, are all
being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves equally ancient, and nature has made us all after
their advantage to do so; but fear is supported one fashion. Strip us naked, and we shall all be
by the dread of pain, which is ever present. found alike. Dress us in their clothing, and they
(Chapter XVII, The Prince) in ours, we shall appear noble, they ignoble – for
poverty and riches make all the difference.”
2. “At this point one may note that men must be (Book III: Chapter 3, Florentine Histories)
either pampered or annihilated. They avenge
light offenses; they cannot avenge severe ones;
hence, the harm one does to a man must be
such as to obviate any fear of revenge.”
(Chapter III, The Prince)