Yes, he spoke Italian.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli was not typically seen as an individualist. He is best known for his political works, particularly "The Prince," which emphasized the effective exercise of power by rulers. His ideas focused on the practicalities of maintaining power rather than on individual rights or autonomy.
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. ... Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli, an Italian diplomat, philosopher, and writer, wrote in "The Prince" that it is safer for a ruler to be feared than loved if they cannot be both. He argued that fear is a more reliable means of maintaining power and control.
A statement consistent with Niccolò Machiavelli's ideas might be: "It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both." This idea reflects Machiavelli's belief that a ruler should prioritize maintaining power and control over being liked or popular.
The ends justify the means: Machiavelli believes that a ruler should do whatever is necessary to maintain power, even if it means acting unethically. It is better to be feared than loved: Machiavelli argues that a ruler should prioritize fear over love from their subjects to ensure stability and control. Realpolitik over idealism: Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of practicality and pragmatism in politics, rather than relying on lofty ideals or moral principles.
Leaders should do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals.
Leaders should do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals.
i believe the major thesis was that any ruler who wishes to retain absolute control of his territory must use, not only wisdom and skill, but cunning and ruthlessness through fear rather than love.
Niccolo Machiavelli, the author of The Prince, who believed that it is "far safer to be feared than loved". He believed rulers should be cunning, sly, crafty, and manipulative in order to maintain or increase their power.
Machiavelli differed from earlier writers by focusing on the practical aspects of ruling rather than moral or idealistic considerations. He believed rulers should prioritize maintaining power and stability, even if it meant using deceit and cruelty. Machiavelli's pragmatic approach in "The Prince" marks a departure from the traditional emphasis on virtue and ethics in political thought.
Niccolò Machiavelli is often associated with secularism due to his political writings that emphasized the pragmatic use of power and authority, rather than relying on religious or moral principles. However, it is debated among scholars whether Machiavelli himself was a true secularist as his views on religion were nuanced and not purely secular. He did emphasize the need for effective governance and political strategy over religious considerations in his works.