June 21, 2003

MACHIAVELLI ON FACTS VS. DREAMS

Concerning Cruelty And Clemency, And Whether It Is Better To Be Loved Than Feared

"....I say that every prince ought to desire to be considered clement and not cruel. Nevertheless he ought to take care not to misuse this clemency. Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; notwithstanding, his cruelty reconciled the Romagna, unified it, and restored it to peace and loyalty. And if this be rightly considered, he will be seen to have been much more merciful than the Florentine people, who, to avoid a reputation for cruelty, permitted Pistoia to be destroyed. Therefore a prince, so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies; for these are wont to injure the whole people, whilst those executions which originate with a prince offend the individual only.

Posted at 03:10 PM by

Comments

Next thing I will see Macchiavelli listed on Jewhoo.com as being of Jewish heritage? :-)

Because why am I reminded of the Hebrew proverb (originating in a rabbinical commentary on the story of Amalek) that: Kol ha-merachem al ha-akhzarim, sofo le-hitakhzer al ha-rachmanim (He who displays mercy towards the cruel will end up being cruel towards the merciful.)

There is a gulf of difference between Macchiavellism and rabbinical Judaism. What they do have in common is their utter lack of romantic illusions about human nature.

As another non-Jew with a similar outlook put it: "Correct morality can only be arrived at starting from what man is -- not from what do-gooders and well-meaning aunt Nellies would like him to be." (Robert A. Heinlein, "Starship Troopers".)

Posted by: Former Belgian on June 27, 2003 09:47 AM

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