dy; for the common people are always taken by appearances and by results, and it is the vulgar mass that constitutes the world” (Machiavelli 87).
In recommending advice to potential princes for maintaining power, Machiavelli argues that in a time of corruption and power jockeying among political forces, the true prince must bring civil unity to the state through any means at his disposal. The means the uses are never considered unethical or immoral if they achieve the ends – civil unity. To this end, Machiavelli argues that a true prince should strive to be feared rather than loved because it is only fear that keeps men in line, so-to-speak. Thus, Machiavelli comes to the conclusion that while a leader should try not to arouse hatred in the people, he should use fear as the chief means of control rather than love “To come back now to the question whether it be better to be beloved than feared, I conclude that, as men love of their own free will, but are inspired with fear by the will of the prince, a wise prince should always rely upon himself, and not upon the will of others; but, above all, should he always strive to avoid being hated” (Machiavelli 84).
Machiavelli argues that it is wise for a ruler to try and build a reputation for virtue, but he insists it is foolish for a leader to act this way in order to receive public praise before retention of power. Thus, when it comes to the common people, Machiavelli argues that a leader must consider his own will and the retention of power and control before thinking of any desires of the people when acting. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were not important considerations in Machiavelli’s worldview of leaders and society. Instead, he preferred a controlled order as opposed to an uneasy liberty. Machiavelli viewed the world as basically one of chaos and corruption. Machiavelli saw many political theories as idealistic proposals, proposals that if followed...