Question

Citing specific evidence from machiavelli's the prince (not from the textbook), identify, and briefly explain, the qualities of the ideal political leader.

Answer 1

Machiavelli establishes in his book that an ideal political leader must have the following qualities to achieve his goals:

1) Being feared, as he says in the page 65 of The Prince. In the medieval era it was safer to be feared rather than to be loved, because fear was a stop for revolutionary ideas against the leader. But as Machiavelli adds in page 72, that fear should not turn into hate as that would be dangerous for the leader.

2) Being supported by the governed, because if the people doesn't support the leader, this one wouldn't be able to carry out his policies, as he needs the people to execute those.

3) Virtue, because with them it is easier to gain the people's support necessary to carry out the policies wanted by the leader, as it is described in point 2.

4) Using one own's arms, this is said in chapters 12 and 13. Machiavelli says that is better to use the own citizens in battle rather than hiring mercenaries, as the citizens would be willing to die for the cause, and would support the leader no matter what.

5) Intelligence, this is the most important of all the qualities. Without intelligence, the leader would not be able to achieve the other four qualities. This quality allows the prince to take the best decisions for him and his people.