Infographic: Machiavelli’s The Prince and The Morality of Politics

“It is far better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both.”

This is the advice Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli gives to monarchs in The Prince, the controversial political treatise written more than five centuries ago. While there’s ongoing debate as to whether Machiavelli wrote it as satire or an actual “how-to-rule” guide for dictators, few can doubt its significance in Western literature.

Machiavelli, who is considered the Father of Modern Political Science, has been criticized for what some consider to be radically severe political advice. Indeed, his name has become a part of the English lexicon in the form of “Machiavellian,” a word synonymous with leaders who use devious tricks to advance their career.

Today marks the 489th anniversary since Machiavelli’s death, and today we examine his enduring work with an infographic for The Prince, which illustrates the major themes that still resonate with audiences and leaders today.

Necessary Evil

“The prince should make himself feared in such a way that, if he is not loved, at least he escapes being hated.”

No matter how cruel one acts, the end always justifies the means, according to Machiavelli. In other words, it’s safe to say you won’t find your Prince Charming in Machiavelli’s world. And if you do, there’s likely malicious intent behind that charm.

Practicality

Rather than relying on the utopian ideals of other scholars at the time, The Prince stresses the importance of man and society taking action for political outcomes. This form of classical realism shuns morality and Christian ideals.

Class

Machiavelli believed class conflict was the friction necessary for state development, saying, “in every republic there are two different dispositions, that of the populace and that of the upper class and that all legislation favourable to liberty is brought about by the clash between them.” In other words, new legislation enjoyed by the citizens only came when there was discord between them.

Lessons of History

Every leader should have a historical role model, according to Machiavelli, who relies heavily on ancient figures as examples of how to rule. History should not be forgotten; rather, it should inform and drive today’s political strategies.

Learn more about themes, characters, and Machiavelli’s school of political thought in Course Hero’s The Prince infographic!

Originally published at www.coursehero.com on June 21, 2016.