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The Prince (1532)

by Niccolò Machiavelli

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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23,480251148 (3.72)376
Politics. Management. Nonfiction. HTML:

Il Principe (The Prince) is the famous text by Florentine public servant Niccolo Machiavelli, in which he outlines the best strategy by which a prince can acquire, maintain and protect his state. Published posthumously, the text departs from his previous works, but is that for which he is remembered, and which has produced the adjective "Machiavellian". Machiavelli directives for maintaining a secure state are direct and at times brutal, taking the view that the ends justify the means.

.… (more)
  1. 141
    Utopia by Thomas More (2below)
    2below: Each one is fascinating in its own right but I think reading both (or reading them concurrently, as I did) provides an interesting perspective on two seemingly opposed extremes.
  2. 93
    The Republic by Plato (caflores)
  3. 41
    Maxims and Reflections by Francesco Guicciardini (timoroso)
    timoroso: Guicciardini, a friend and colleague of Machiavelli, wrote a book of maxims sometimes profound in themselves, other times interesting to compare to Machiavelli's opinions. The subject matter for both is essentially the same: how to act in a politically and ethically thoroughly unstable world.… (more)
  4. 21
    Chief Works of Benedict De Spinoza: A Theologico-Political Treatise and a Political Treatise by Benedict de Spinoza (caflores)
  5. 22
    On the Nature of War by Carl von Clausewitz (sirparsifal)
  6. 12
    Machiavelli by Herfried Münkler (MeisterPfriem)
    MeisterPfriem: Münkler discusses and places Machiavelli in the context of the political and economic realities facing Florence in the second half of the 15th century as well as within the intellectual history of political thought from Antiquity and Medieval ages. This is an immensely thorough work. Published in 1982 it takes into consideration all important relevant literature .… (more)
  7. 12
    The Book of the Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione (caflores)
  8. 05
    The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie (Othemts)
  9. 219
    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Ciruelo, Othemts)
    Ciruelo: Really. Both are classic studies in the workings of power.
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» See also 376 mentions

English (202)  Spanish (12)  Catalan (6)  French (6)  Dutch (5)  Italian (4)  Portuguese (Brazil) (3)  Portuguese (Portugal) (3)  Danish (2)  Finnish (2)  German (1)  Swedish (1)  Portuguese (1)  All languages (248)
Showing 1-5 of 202 (next | show all)
Highly inductive, applying a relatively narrow reading of classical (well, Roman) history to a narrower aspect of Italian history, written to persuade Lorenzo de Medici to hire its out-of-work courtier author, who was previously allied to the Borgias . A job application that has survived as a work of literature because, I suspect, it is so illuminating as to the politics of Italy during the Renaissance, and because of its cynical views on human nature - which are surely the author's own. And of course it was valued by several prominent authors who came after. Not a book that is wrong so much as it is highly specific: for those not attempting to run a small Italian republic in the sixteenth century, it is of lesser utility. ( )
  Quickpint | Feb 19, 2024 |
Not at all what I was expecting. "Machiavellian" is used so often to describe cut-throat behaviour that you would think the book would be more relevant to general life principles. Sadly, it is really intended for princes and those in monarchies. Unless you are looking for an obscure history lesson in 15th century Italy, I would find something more relevant. ( )
  MXMLLN | Jan 12, 2024 |
First edition - paperback with staple binding. Humourous but unfriendly quotations by and about then Liberal Party Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Fraser listed under Machiavellian themes.
  GeoffreyMG | Dec 19, 2023 |
a classic, but not a great one; probably good at the time but very much a historical text - i found it to be quite dull and probably a somewhat inferior text to other analyses of politics since. however, as a groundbreaking text, i suppose it holds much credit simply in pioneering many of its ideas, and on the meta-level i found the way machiavelli constructs the 'virtus' as the synthesis between moral and practical achievement to be interesting. ( )
  sylvarum | Oct 26, 2023 |
Excellent book!
I always heard good things said about this book. I, for no good reason, assumed that this book will be a philosophical discourse on duties of a ruler.

I opened this book with a presumption that I will not go beyond 20 pages. However, I was so intrigued that I completed this book in a single sitting. This is book is as much a treatise on the political management as a handbook on public administration.

After reading the book, I can't help but marvel at Machiavelli's acute observation, shrewdness and patriotism. His love for Italy is evident in almost every line.

Given that the book was written during the most tumultuous period of the italian history when statEs waged wars on other states, mercenaries are a common sight, loot and plunder abounded, Machiavelli, believed in a stable state. A state that can fend off external enemies and that can quell the internal quibbles.

He wants the ruler(prince) to be strong and impose his authority. According to Machiavelli, a powerful ruler should always think with his head than with his heart.

I liked Machiavelli's writing style; he used props like anecdotes and analogies with perfection. His writing strikes chord because all the doctrines stated in the book are not dogmatic and are the result of experiences he gained by observing his contemporaries and his study of history. ( )
  harishwriter | Oct 12, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 202 (next | show all)
In the introduction to his new translation of The Prince, Tim Parks tells his reader that a grasp of Machiavelli requires "some sense of the complicated political geography of Italy in the 15th and early 16th centuries"....Even with Parks's valiant modernisation, it can be a sludgy read. Machiavelli's name clearly became a byword for skulduggery with help from a lot of people who have never bothered to read a word he wrote...
added by vibesandall | editThe Guardian (UK), Rafael Behr (Jun 27, 2009)
 
Kad je reč o umešnosti vladanja, ovo nezaobilazno delo bilo je i ostalo neprevaziđeno. Postalo je pojam!

Delo nastalo na velikom raskršću istorije, kada se odlučno odbacuje srednjovekovno metafizičko učenje i usvajaju empirički metodi razmišljanja, predstavlja ujedno fascinantno svedočanstvo razlaza između mita i realnosti, između vere i sumnje. Ovaj biser renesansne političke misli karakteriše realistično posmatranje političkih događaja i visoke moralne pobude koje su inspirisale autora. Vladalac je samo prividno apoteoza tiranina i kodeks pravila za ubijanje, čitav traktat o vladaocu svodi se na to da se u Italiji pronađe čovek koji će je ujediniti. Život i delo ovog poznatog firentinca obeležavaju kao teoretičara o osnivanju i održavanju država.
added by Sensei-CRS | editknjigainfo.com
 

» Add other authors (463 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Machiavelli, Niccolòprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Abreu, YordiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Adabağ, NecdetTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Adams, Robert M.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Aguero, Marcos SanzForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Allen, W. B.Contributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Allen, William B.Contributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Alvarez, Leo Paul S. deTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Arkes, HadleyContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Arkes, HadleyContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Aron, RaymondForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Arrais, RafaelEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ascoli, Albert RussellIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Atkinson, James B.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ījabs, IvarsAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Čaklā, IntaEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bahner, WernerForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Baker-Smith, DominicIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Barreca, ReginaIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bates, PhilipEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Beard, BenjaminContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Benitez, PaulaEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bergin, Thomas G.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Berlin, IsaiahMedarb.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bickford-Smith, CoralieIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bingen, JonOvers.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Blaschke, FriedrichTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bock, KlausAutorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bonaparte, NapoleónForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bondanella, PeterTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bowman, John S.Prefacesecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Branca, VittoreForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bull, George AnthonyTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Butler-Bowdon, TomIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Caponigri, A. RobertTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Casella, MarioContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Caso, AdolphEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Chabod, FedericoPrefacesecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Chiappelli, FrediForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Codevilla, Angelo M.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Connell, William J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Constantine, PeterTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Corsaro, AntonioForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Cullen, PatrickNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Decaro, EnzoNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Delvers, RihardsIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Detmold, ChristianTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dias, Maurício SantanaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Donno, Daniel JohnTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dooren, Frans vanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dotti, UgoEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Edman, IrwinForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ennis, MichaelForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Eriksen, Trond BergOvers.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fichte, Johann Gottliebsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fiore, QuentinIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Firpo, LuigiEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Frasier, ShellyNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Freyer, HansIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fuller, NelleEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gauss, ChristianIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Günther, HorstAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gohory, JacquesTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Goldwasser, Maria JúliaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
González-Blanco, EdmundoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Goodwin, RufusTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Grafton, AnthonyIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Grunberg, ArnonAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hajný, JosefTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hegel, Georg Wilhelm FriedrichContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Herczeg, GyulaKöZrem.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Horvath, PatrickAuthorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hybinette, KarinTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Inglese, GiorgioEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ζωγραφίδης… ΓιώργοςEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ζωγραφίδου - Καραχάλιου… ΖώζηTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jáuregui, José AntonioPr.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Janni, EttoreEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kallio, O. A.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kekewich, Lucille MargaretIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kramer, Gert-JanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Löffler, RalfHerausgebersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lévy, YvesIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lönnroth, ErikAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Leonetti Jungl, EliTraductor y notassecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lisio, GiuseppeEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lord, CarnesContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lord, CarnesContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lotherington, JohnIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Luciani, GérardAuteursecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lupton, Colin J. E.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lutter, ÉvaFord.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ménissier, ThierryTraductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Malarczyk, JanTł.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mansfield, Harvey C.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mansfield, Harvey C.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Marriott, W. K.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Martínez Arancón, Ana,Pr.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Martinez, BenjaminIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Massa-Carrara, MarinaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mazzini Ruiz, OctavioTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McMahon, RobEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Melograni, PieroTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Melotti, FrancoIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Merian-Genast, ErnstTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Micheli, JayaCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Miller, Stephen J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Moners i Sinyol, JordiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mouwen, ChrisTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Musa, MarkTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nassetti, PietroTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Parks, TimTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Puigdomènech, HelenaTraductorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Qviller, BjørnIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rebhorn, Wayne A.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rehberg, August WilhelmÜbersetzersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Requena, EloyTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ricci, LuigiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Richardson, IanNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rieu, E. V.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rippel, PhilippHerausgebersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rodriguez, Juan ManuelIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Roper, WilliamAuthorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Runger, NelsonNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Russo, LuigiIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
SemIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Skinner, QuentinEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sonnino, PaulTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Stone, NormanForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Strēlerte, VeronikaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Strong, RiderPerformersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
t'Serstevens, AlbertTraductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Teksoy, RekinTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Thomson, Ninian HillTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tichenor, H. M.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tietjen, GregoryAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tobin, JohnIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tursi, Antonio D.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Uyl, AnthonyEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Van Dooren, FransTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vincent, E. R. P.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Viroli, MaurizioIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Weaver, FritzReadersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wootton, DavidTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Epigraph
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Niccolo Machiavelli to Lorenzo the Magnificent, Son of Piero di Medici
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All the states, all the dominions under whose authority men have lived in the past and live now have been and are either republics or principalities.
It is customary for those who wish to gain the favour of a prince to endeavour to do so by offering him gifts of those things which they hold most precious, or in which they know him to take especial delight.
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This is the main work for The Prince. It should not be combined with any abridgement, adaptation, study guide, etc.
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Politics. Management. Nonfiction. HTML:

Il Principe (The Prince) is the famous text by Florentine public servant Niccolo Machiavelli, in which he outlines the best strategy by which a prince can acquire, maintain and protect his state. Published posthumously, the text departs from his previous works, but is that for which he is remembered, and which has produced the adjective "Machiavellian". Machiavelli directives for maintaining a secure state are direct and at times brutal, taking the view that the ends justify the means.

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Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli nacque a Firenze il 3 maggio del 1469. Terzo figlio dei guelfi Bernardo e Bartolomea Nelli, iniziò a studiare latino quando aveva sette anni. In seguito si dedicò anche allo studio di altre discipline, tra cui la grammatica, la matematica e l’aritmetica. Fin da giovane nutrì un forte interesse per la politica, passione che lo portò a ricoprire la carica di segretario della Seconda Cancelleria della Repubblica Fiorentina, intrattenendo rapporti diplomatici con la Francia e con altri paesi stranieri e svolgendo un ruolo fondamentale nella vita politica fiorentina di quel periodo. Mantenne l’incarico fino al 1512, quando i Medici rientrarono a Firenze. Esiliato dal mondo politico, Machiavelli si dedicò alla scrittura. In questo periodo iniziò “Discorsi sulla prima Deca di Tito Livio” e scrisse quella che divenne la sua opera più conosciuta, il “De principatibus”, divenuto successivamente noto con il titolo “Il Principe”. Nonostante i numerosi tentativi di rientrare a svolgere un ruolo attivo nella politica fiorentina, tutti i suoi sforzi risultarono vani. Storico, drammaturgo, filosofo, e uno dei maggiori teorici della politica italiani di tutti i tempi, Niccolò Machiavelli morì a Firenze il 21 giugno del 1527.
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Penguin Australia

5 editions of this book were published by Penguin Australia.

Editions: 0140449159, 0141018852, 0451531000, 0141442255, 0143566466

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