A SHORT NOTE ON MACHIAVELLI

 

A SHORT NOTE ON MACHIAVELLI

            In this short note readers will learn a few useful thoughts imparted by Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli. He was an Italian diplomat, author, philosopher and historian .

            Born on 3 May 1469, he died on 21 June 1527. He is universally known for his political treatise “The Prince” written around 1513 and published in  1532. This small book in which Machiavelli  argues that rulers must be pragmatic, even cruel, is quite controversial among political thinkers and spiritual readers. His philosophy is called Machiavellism.  The average man’s conceptions about this book are contained in such aphorisms as :

            *The end justifies the means.

            *Necessity knows no law.

            * Might makes right.

            The most important fact is that Machiavelli divorces politics from ethics and religion.

            For these aphorisms, however, he finds support  in ancient Greek assumptions such as the state is the highest form of human association and endeavour, the most necessary of all institutions for the protection and promotion of human welfare; and hence that reasons of state should outrank all other kinds of individual or social obligation. Another ancient doctrine is that self-interest is the most potent of all factors of political motivation.

            Chiefly remembered on account of The Prince, Machiavelli was also famous for other writings such as popular novels songs, poems, and comedies. And he also wrote an authentic and well-received history of Florence.      

            To conclude, here are three quotes by him.

*The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

*it is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

*I am not interested in preserving the status quo. I want to overthrow it.

       G.R.Kanwal

       14 January 2026