The Prince

Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May 1469.

His youth was concurrent with the greatness of Florence as an Italian power under the guidance of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Il Magnifico.

His first mission was in 1499 to Catherina Sforza, ‘my lady of Forli’ of ‘The Prince.’

It is far better to earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses.

The return of the Medici to Florence on 1st September 1512, and the consequent fall of the Republic, was the signal for the dismissal of Machiavelli and his friends.

I am possessed entirely by those great men.

Desiring therefore to present myself to your Magnificence with some testimony of my devotion towards you, I have not found among my possessions anything which I hold more dear than, or value so much as, the knowledge of the actions of great men.

And if your Magnificence from the summit of your greatness will sometimes turn your eyes to these lower regions, you will see how unmeritedly I suffer a great and continued malignity of fortune.

In order to discover the virtue of an Italian spirit, it was necessary that Italy should be reduced to the extremity that she is now in, that she should be more enslaved than the Hebrews, more oppressed than the Persians.

Hereditary principalities are easier to govern due to established traditions.