Growing up, and through his time in political office, Machiavelli studied the men and/or groups in power, specifically noting their successes and failures. Using this information from his observations, Machiavelli wrote The Prince in order to try to re-enter politics by “assisting” in his ruling the man who had exiled him, Lorenzo de Medici. Though this was more of a plot to try to gain the favor of Lorenzo, he does note

Again, though, he was a reflection of his times. “The men of the Renaissance era wanted many things--money, power, enjoyment in life--regardless of the moral cost” (L&HR, Davey). Others would argue that these embellishments either meant nothing or would not occur without restraining the desires of both one’s self and one’s state. One needs balance of everything in order to reach the ideals of perfection, but Machiavelli would argue that perfection is not real and so is not worth striving for. Instead, one must live for one self. He makes the generalization of men that “they are ungrateful, fickle, dissembling, anxious to flee danger, and covetous of gain. So long as you promote their advantage, they are all yours. . .and will offer you their blood, their goods, their lives, and their children when the need for these is remote. When the need arises, however, they will turn against you. . . .Men are less concerned about offending someone they have cause to love than someone they have cause to fear. Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present”(Machiavelli,52). This summarizes Machiavelli’s view of society and brings up what rulers or a man of any status, must acquire in order to attain and retain power. They must rely on what they, not others, can control. Oddly enough, the prince that Machiavelli proposes, one whose substance is assumed very achievable, as opposed to the unattainable ideal, has a more difficult job. He must present an appearance of greatness, composed of every awesome quality that would be desired in a ruler, yet where those of society can not see him he is to be evil, malicious, manipulative and dissembling. This goes against all that has been said about a ruler who needs to be tempered in the virtues of courage, justice, and wisdom in order to rule.

Overall, his concern is more for his country and her power, than the individuals and their prosperity. Though Machiavelli could be considered unreasonable and cold to the society and the general public, he is also very patriotic, with a strong sense of the need to protect and better his country. He does differ from the other philosophers in his suggestion for rulers.

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