Great Leader's Words example essay topic

The Prince Chapter Analysis The Prince, by Machiavelli, was written for the Italian de Medici family and intended to be used as a guidebook for retaining political power. In the chapter entitled 'That We Must Avoid Being Despised and Hated,' Machiavelli describes the traits that a leader should avoid. He also describes the traits a leader must have in order to have the respect and loyalty of his subjects. Machiavelli writes, 'He is rendered despicable by being thought changeable, frivolous, effeminate, timid, and irresolute. ' Machiavelli believes the leader should never vacillate. The leader's words would become meaningless for he cannot gain anything by constantly changing his goals and his decisions.

An example of this would be a manager wishes to complete a task and he orders his workers to begin this task. The manager later decides to change this task abandoning his first task, and he instructs his workers to begin the new task. The manager instructs his workers to return to the first task. The workers begin to become frustrated, and the manager has yet to accomplish a task. Thus, a leader must not vacillate in order to accomplish any goal. A leader must always accomplish the goals he sets out to accomplish, for if he chooses to attain a goal which he has no hope of gaining, then he is a frivolous ruler, and according to Machiavelli, deserves to become despised.

A timid ruler would be too weak and too scared to rule his people, and he would never get a task done. An effeminate ruler is thought to have feminine qualities. In those times, someone who was feminine could not be taken seriously. A leader must always resolve a problem for all problems allowed to 'get out of hand' tend to become large problems, and this will show the leader's inability to resolve things.

An example of this would be a king becomes aware that his crops were not as productive one year. The king decides nothing on it. Later that winter, his people begin to starve, but the king has done nothing to help. The starving people begin to revolt against this irresolute king. Therefore, a king must not be irresolute. Machiavelli describes these traits so the traits may be avoided by the leader.

The leader would become despised and not respected by his citizens and fellow rulers if he is thought to be changeable, frivolous, effeminate, timid, and irresolute. A despised leader would not have friends, and his subjects would be more inclined to watch him fall. Therefore, a despised leader would more likely be over thrown. Machiavelli also describes the qualities needed for a good leader. Machiavelli writes a good leader's actions must 'show grandeur, spirit, gravity, and fortitude. ' Machiavelli believes the leader should show his greatness to all.

A leader without spirit is a leader without a personality or feeling. Machiavelli implies although leaders may have to be immoral at times, a leader must show that he is different from other leaders, and show his subjects he is a real person. Gravity may be interpreted in this quote as seriousness. Machiavelli believes a leader must have some kind of basis of greatness, and the leader should fortify himself whether it be through physical strength or military strength.

A leader without a basis of strength cannot show grandeur. An example of this would be a leader has a large military, and the leader intimidates his competition through this because it shows the leader's ability to have the resources to maintain such a force. Machiavelli believes a leader will be safeguarded from conspiracies if he shows the above qualities. Machiavelli writes 'The prince who creates such an opinion of himself gets a great reputation, and it is very difficult to conspire against one has a great reputation.

' This statement is referring to true, for the leader's subjects will respect his words, and they will adhere to a great leader's words. The subjects will not oppose the leader's words, but rather defend his words. Thus, the leader's loyal subjects would attempt to halt any conspirators. The leader will have friends with his greatness. These friends would help him with conspirators because his friends respect and admire his greatness. However, a despised leader cannot find defense from others, for he does not show greatness and other leaders would see him as insignificant.

The leader will be quickly become victim to a conspiracy internally and externally. A leader should never be despised, for he would become victim of conspiracies otherwise. Machiavelli also believed certain traits are necessary in order to become a great leader, and he believes certain traits are needed to be despised.