The Prince

by Machiavelli, Niccolo; Bull, George; Bull, George

• ISBN13: 9780140441079
• ISBN10: 0140441077
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1961-07-30
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

Classic, Renaissance-era guide to acquiring and maintaining political power. Today, nearly 500 years after it was written, this calculating prescription for autocratic rule continues to be much read and studied.

Author Biography

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a Florentine statesman who was later forced out of public life. He then devoted himself to studying and writing political philosophy, history, fiction, and drama.

George Bull is an author and journalist who has translated six volumes for the Penguin Classics: Benvenuto Cellini’s Autobiography, The Book of the Courtier by Castiglione, Vasari’s Lives of the Artists (two volumes), The Prince by Machiavelli and Pietro Aretino’s Selected Letters. He is also Consultant Editor to the Penguin Business Series. After reading history at Brasenose College, Oxford, George Bull worked for the Financial Times, McGraw-Hill World News, and for the Director magazine, of which he was Editor-in-Chief until 1984. His other books include Vatican Politics; Bid for Power (with Anthony Vice), a history of take-over bids; Renaissance Italy, a book for children; Venice: The Most Triumphant City; and Inside the Vatican.
George Bull is an author and journalist who has translated six volumes for the Penguin Classics: Benvenuto Cellini’s Autobiography, The Book of the Courtier by Castiglione, Vasari’s Lives of the Artists (two volumes), The Prince by Machiavelli and Pietro Aretino’s Selected Letters. He is also Consultant Editor to the Penguin Business Series. After reading history at Brasenose College, Oxford, George Bull worked for the Financial Times, McGraw-Hill World News, and for the Director magazine, of which he was Editor-in-Chief until 1984. His other books include Vatican Politics; Bid for Power (with Anthony Vice), a history of take-over bids; Renaissance Italy, a book for children; Venice: The Most Triumphant City; and Inside the Vatican.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Mentor Edition	p. 7
The various kinds of Government and the ways by which they are established	p. 33
Of Hereditary Monarchies	p. 34
Of Mixed Monarchies	p. 35
Why the Kingdom of Darius, occupied by Alexander, did not rebel against the successors of the latter after his death	p. 43
The way to govern Cities or Dominions that, previous to being occupied, lived under their own Laws	p. 46
Of New Dominions which have been acquired by one's own arms and ability	p. 48
Of New Dominions acquired by the Power of others or by Fortune	p. 52
Of those who have attained the position of Prince by villainy	p. 59
Of the Civic Principality	p. 63
How the strength of all States should be measured	p. 67
Of Ecclesiastical Principalities	p. 69
The different kinds of Militia and Mercenary Soldiers	p. 72
Of Auxiliary, Mixed, and Native Troops	p. 77
The Duties of a Prince with regard to the Militia	p. 81
Of the things for which Men, and especially Princes, are praised or blamed	p. 84
Of Liberality and Niggardliness	p. 86
Of Cruelty and Clemency, and whether it is better to be loved or feared	p. 89
In what way Princes must keep Faith	p. 92
That we must avoid being despised and hated	p. 95
Whether Fortresses and other things which Princes often contrive are useful or injurious	p. 105
How a Prince must act in order to gain reputation	p. 110
Of the Secretaries of Princes	p. 114
How Flatterers must be shunned	p. 116
Why the Princes of Italy have lost their States	p. 118
How much Fortune can do in human affairs and how it may be opposed	p. 120
Exhortation to liberate Italy from the Barbarians	p. 124
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.