“Is it better to be feared or loved?” is the question that comes to mind when you think  about The Prince, Machiavelli’s masterpiece on statecraft for princes and kings of all shapes and sizes. Although not in line with Machiavelli’s true political leanings (he always preferred a republic akin to Rome) this book nonetheless captures the challenges of statecraft and the mentalities of men cutthroat enough to lead a country.

Some have claimed this book is written as a satire, due to Machiavelli’s politics. Even if that were true, it was written well enough to have captured the attention of many power-thirsty and manipulative men and women of history. There is even a clinical psychiatric diagnosis of Machiavellianism, describing someone prone to manipulation of others and situations. This book is a short and quick read that delves wholeheartedly into the bloody and deceitful world of power. It should be recognized for its immense impact on political thinking.

In Machiavelli’s mind, being a successful leader takes many skills. The most important is the wisdom or intellect to foresee future problemsand resolve them before they fester.

So it is with a state: when ills are recognized in advance (and only the prudent can do this), they are quickly cured. But when having gone unrecognized, they are allowed to increase until everyone may recognize them, then remedy is no longer possible (p.22.)

More than this, a leader must be strong and sly. He must not let others stand in his way for anything. “Hence a prince ought to be a fox in recognizing snares and a lion in driving off wolves (p.68.)”  With these skills, a leader can outmaneuver anyone who stands in his way. Leaders must also be willing to go after what they want and they must actually achieve their goals or they can lose their power.

It is truly a natural and ordinary thing to desire gain; and when those who can succeed attempt it, they will always be praised and not blamed. But if they cannot succeed, yet try anyway, they are guilty of error and are blameworthy (p.23.)

Although we hope for our leaders to be good and honest men and women in their lives, Machiavelli argues that a leader cannot be so.  “Hence it is necessary that a prince who is interested in his survival learn to be other than good, making use of this capacity or refraining from it according to need (p.62.)” This can be used for the common good though, and the evil actions that a leader must use should be directed at those who challenge him or her. Evil should never be directed at the people one is leading. They are the life support of any leader, and the sole reason for his existence. “I will conclude by saying that only the good will of the people is vital to a prince; otherwise he will be helpless in times of adversity (p.45.)” Don’t worry about the

other power players but care about your team and people at all costs.

That said, when a leader takes power, he often faces tough decisions and hard choices. These decisions can be painful to those serving under him or her, so it is important to remember another famous maxim of Machiavelli. “Injuries must be committed all at once so that, being savored less, they will arouse less resentment. Benefits, on the other hand, should be bestowed little by little so as to be more fully savored (p.43.)” If you can do this, leadership becomes a breeze.

Yet it must be remembered that claiming and retaining power is challenging. It is the make or break moment for a leader. None of the stratagems and maxims mean anything without the right to rule or the ability to rule. A new leader faces unimaginable challenges, especially if  they are trying to change entire organizations or states.

It must be realized that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more uncertain of success, or more dangerous to manage than the establishment of a new order of government; for he who introduces it makes enemies of all those who derived advantage from the old order and finds but lukewarm defenders among those who stand to gain from the new one (p.31.)

Assuming that you succeed in gaining power, the trick is knowing how to wield it effectively, exploiting your enemies and keeping the populace happy and in debt to you. You cannot get weak or soft. You must be ever vigilant. As a leader you need to stay on your toes and always appear to be in control and executing plans. Without these attributes, you are doomed to fail. “For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results; and the world is composed of the mob (p.70.)”

This book is a great read for anyone who wants to understand power. It will open your eyes to the ways leaders and tyrants think. I hope you do not use this book as a guide to live your life as there are enough evil men and women in the world. But recognize the lessons that can apply to any leader, and adapt them to your own life (ethically and morally.) Read this book to understand why politicians act the way they do. Read this book to see the frailties of man. Read this book to gain power.