Ideas and Thoughts of Machiavelli

1.Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher, poet, play-write and politician in the early 1500's.  He lived in Florence Italy during the renaissance period. He entered the world of politics in 1494 .  He quickly gained power and before long was engaged in diplomatic missions. He went allover the Europe meeting impotent political figures such as the pope and the King of France.  The person who interested him the most was Cesare Borgia, a cunning, cruel prince that inspired Machiavelli to write the infamous book, The Prince. Machiavelli's book earned him much criticism. People were outraged at the cruelties in the book and wondered what kind of man would have written it.  Machiavelli wrote The Prince to show the people what a ruler should be like and how they should act in order to gain power over the people.     2. "The wise man dose at once what the fool does finally." - quote from Machiavelli's Book, The Prince.  This quote relates to our world today because we live in a fast moving environment and when we hesitate to think, we loose our chance to act.  A good leader today must be wise enough to act quickly but rationally.  An example of this is a director.  Whether they are are directing a play, movie or sport, directors all act the same.  They all must choose and act quickly, but carefully to ensure a positive outcome.    3. "The ends justify the means." - The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.  In our world today  thoughts and feelings of others are taken into account when we lead them.  Back in Machiavelli's time, rulers only took into account what they felt and wanted.  Leaders didn't consider the consequences of their actions and if they did they didn't truly care if someone got in their way or objected.  Rulers would just have them "taken care of".     4. "Before all else, be armed." - The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.  This quote would have been useful to the Inca's during the battle with Pizarro because none of the Inca's were armed.  They thought that they would win merely to the fact that they out numbered Pizarro's army.  Pizarro knew that his army was outnumbered but he also knew that he had technologies and strategies that the Inca's did not. Machiavelli knew that a good leader must always contemplate the different outcomes and be prepared for the worst.