Miscellaneous and Machiavelli
This post should have appeared before November 7, but at that time recovery from hand and wrist injuries did not permit doing so. Thank you for your good wishes, and here is a beginning.
It has been noticed that the pundits mention the word Machiavellian when speaking about some political maneuvers during the recent election. Who is, or was, this Machiavelli?
Niccolo di Bernardo Machiavelli of Florence, Italy b. May 3, 1469, d. June 22,1527
Machiavellism a political principle according to which every act of the state (or statesman) is permissible
Five centuries ago Italy was divided into City States, one of which was Florence, where Machiavelli lived and held forth his villainous schemes for successful political power. Crafty manipulation to further that power may be summed up in one short sentence: Anything goes if it works. Although the citizens of Florence considered themselves to be Christians, they were advised to ignore those teachings if they interfered with gaining power. Eventually Machiavelli was imprisoned, and while in jail he wrote the definitive The Prince which deals with the devious means to becoming a Monarch of a city state. Readers familiar with Machiavelli's works recognize those principles applied to some current campaigns and governance.
Will you go online to learn more about Machiavelli's schemes and scams? Do you think that a successful run for office justifies whatever needs to be done to achieve it?
Machiavelli wrote
It has been noticed that the pundits mention the word Machiavellian when speaking about some political maneuvers during the recent election. Who is, or was, this Machiavelli?
Niccolo di Bernardo Machiavelli of Florence, Italy b. May 3, 1469, d. June 22,1527
Machiavellism a political principle according to which every act of the state (or statesman) is permissible
Five centuries ago Italy was divided into City States, one of which was Florence, where Machiavelli lived and held forth his villainous schemes for successful political power. Crafty manipulation to further that power may be summed up in one short sentence: Anything goes if it works. Although the citizens of Florence considered themselves to be Christians, they were advised to ignore those teachings if they interfered with gaining power. Eventually Machiavelli was imprisoned, and while in jail he wrote the definitive The Prince which deals with the devious means to becoming a Monarch of a city state. Readers familiar with Machiavelli's works recognize those principles applied to some current campaigns and governance.
Will you go online to learn more about Machiavelli's schemes and scams? Do you think that a successful run for office justifies whatever needs to be done to achieve it?
Machiavelli wrote
A Prince should therefore have no other aim or thought, nor take up any other thing for his study but war and its organization and discipline, for that is the only art that is necessary to one who commands.
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9:33 AM
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