feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/cliffnotes/The Prince/section_19_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Prince.chapter 21
feat_summary_id: chapter 21
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter 21", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20201108110625/https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/the-prince/summary-and-analysis/chapter-21", "summary": "Nothing enhances a ruler's reputation more than undertaking great conquests. Ferdinand of Spain's career provides a good example. He had attacked Granada; driven the Moors out of Spain; and attacked Africa, Italy, and France. These activities kept his subjects amazed and preoccupied, so that no one had time to do anything against him. With regard to internal affairs, princes should always find noteworthy ways to reward or punish any extraordinary actions. Rulers must never remain neutral. If neighboring rulers fight, you must take sides, because if you do not, the winner will threaten you, and the loser will not befriend you. Whether or not your ally wins, he will be grateful to you. However, if you can avoid it, you should never ally with someone more powerful than yourself, because if he wins, you may be in his power. A prince should show that he loves talent and rewards it. He should encourage his citizens to prosper in their occupations. He should keep the people entertained with festivals at appropriate times. And he should give attention to the various civic groups, attending some of their activities, but without appearing undignified.", "analysis": "Reputation and public image are the topics of this chapter. Conquests and daring deeds are the first way to enhance one's reputation. King Ferdinand of Spain is Machiavelli's exemplar, but he gets ambiguous treatment. Although Machiavelli calls him the most famous and glorious prince in Christendom, he also has harsh words for Ferdinand's expulsion of the Moors from Spain, calling it a despicable act done under a religious pretext. In Chapter 18, Machiavelli made a not-very-subtle reference to Ferdinand's penchant for trickery and deceit. Clearly he admires Ferdinand's boldness and energy, but deplores his actions. The emphasis on Ferdinand's ability to keep his subjects amazed and preoccupied recalls the description of Cesare Borgia's execution of Remirro de Orco, which left the people stunned and satisfied. Machiavelli specifically mentions public spectacles at the end of this chapter, and there is a suggestion that spectacle, whether in the form of entertaining festivals, dramatic executions, or daring schemes, is one of the prince's most important tools for controlling public opinion. In the same way, rewarding citizens' achievements or punishing their misdeeds should have an element of spectacle. It should make people talk, and when they talk, it should be about how remarkable the prince is. Machiavelli's other recommendation has to do with decisiveness. Not surprisingly, given his preference for bold action, Machiavelli deplores princes who try to remain neutral in disputes. He presents this as a practical consideration: If a prince fails to take sides, he may find himself without friends when the dust settles. In this discussion, Machiavelli makes one of his few positive statements about human behavior, remarking that men are not so dishonorable nor ungrateful that they will immediately turn on their allies. Given Machiavelli's own advice to the prince in Chapter 18 to break his word when it suits his goals, the reader may have difficulty taking seriously Machiavelli's assurances in this case. Returning to his theme of maintaining good relationships with one's subjects, Machiavelli says that a prince should reward merit and encourage prosperity, because achievements by the citizens improve the state. Princes should show themselves to be friendly to their subjects but without compromising the dignity of their office. Maintaining a certain distance keeps an air of grandeur intact. Glossary Moors Islamic residents of Spain, the Moors had invaded from north Africa in the early eighth century and controlled large portions of Spain until Ferdinand drove them out during the Reconquest, completed by 1500. Ferdinand expelled the Jews at the same time, in his desire to make Spain a pure Christian nation. Machiavelli implies that this was a purely political maneuver done under a religious pretext. Bernabo Bernabo Visconti , ruler of Milan, was famous for giving bizarre punishments."}
text: 
  Nothing makes a prince so much esteemed as great enterprises and setting
  a fine example. We have in our time Ferdinand of Aragon, the present
  King of Spain. He can almost be called a new prince, because he has
  risen, by fame and glory, from being an insignificant king to be the
  foremost king in Christendom; and if you will consider his deeds
  you will find them all great and some of them extraordinary. In the
  beginning of his reign he attacked Granada, and this enterprise was the
  foundation of his dominions. He did this quietly at first and without
  any fear of hindrance, for he held the minds of the barons of Castile
  occupied in thinking of the war and not anticipating any innovations;
  thus they did not perceive that by these means he was acquiring power
  and authority over them. He was able with the money of the Church and
  of the people to sustain his armies, and by that long war to lay the
  foundation for the military skill which has since distinguished him.
  Further, always using religion as a plea, so as to undertake greater
  schemes, he devoted himself with pious cruelty to driving out and
  clearing his kingdom of the Moors; nor could there be a more admirable
  example, nor one more rare. Under this same cloak he assailed Africa,
  he came down on Italy, he has finally attacked France; and thus his
  achievements and designs have always been great, and have kept the minds
  of his people in suspense and admiration and occupied with the issue of
  them. And his actions have arisen in such a way, one out of the other,
  that men have never been given time to work steadily against him.
  
  Again, it much assists a prince to set unusual examples in internal
  affairs, similar to those which are related of Messer Bernabo da Milano,
  who, when he had the opportunity, by any one in civil life doing some
  extraordinary thing, either good or bad, would take some method of
  rewarding or punishing him, which would be much spoken about. And a
  prince ought, above all things, always endeavour in every action to gain
  for himself the reputation of being a great and remarkable man.
  
  A prince is also respected when he is either a true friend or a
  downright enemy, that is to say, when, without any reservation, he
  declares himself in favour of one party against the other; which course
  will always be more advantageous than standing neutral; because if two
  of your powerful neighbours come to blows, they are of such a character
  that, if one of them conquers, you have either to fear him or not.
  In either case it will always be more advantageous for you to declare
  yourself and to make war strenuously; because, in the first case, if
  you do not declare yourself, you will invariably fall a prey to
  the conqueror, to the pleasure and satisfaction of him who has been
  conquered, and you will have no reasons to offer, nor anything to
  protect or to shelter you. Because he who conquers does not want
  doubtful friends who will not aid him in the time of trial; and he who
  loses will not harbour you because you did not willingly, sword in hand,
  court his fate.
  
  Antiochus went into Greece, being sent for by the Aetolians to drive
  out the Romans. He sent envoys to the Achaeans, who were friends of
  the Romans, exhorting them to remain neutral; and on the other hand the
  Romans urged them to take up arms. This question came to be discussed in
  the council of the Achaeans, where the legate of Antiochus urged them to
  stand neutral. To this the Roman legate answered: "As for that which has
  been said, that it is better and more advantageous for your state not
  to interfere in our war, nothing can be more erroneous; because by
  not interfering you will be left, without favour or consideration, the
  guerdon of the conqueror." Thus it will always happen that he who is not
  your friend will demand your neutrality, whilst he who is your friend
  will entreat you to declare yourself with arms. And irresolute princes,
  to avoid present dangers, generally follow the neutral path, and are
  generally ruined. But when a prince declares himself gallantly in favour
  of one side, if the party with whom he allies himself conquers, although
  the victor may be powerful and may have him at his mercy, yet he is
  indebted to him, and there is established a bond of amity; and men are
  never so shameless as to become a monument of ingratitude by oppressing
  you. Victories after all are never so complete that the victor must not
  show some regard, especially to justice. But if he with whom you ally
  yourself loses, you may be sheltered by him, and whilst he is able he
  may aid you, and you become companions on a fortune that may rise again.
  
  In the second case, when those who fight are of such a character that
  you have no anxiety as to who may conquer, so much the more is it
  greater prudence to be allied, because you assist at the destruction
  of one by the aid of another who, if he had been wise, would have saved
  him; and conquering, as it is impossible that he should not do with your
  assistance, he remains at your discretion. And here it is to be noted
  that a prince ought to take care never to make an alliance with one
  more powerful than himself for the purposes of attacking others, unless
  necessity compels him, as is said above; because if he conquers you are
  at his discretion, and princes ought to avoid as much as possible being
  at the discretion of any one. The Venetians joined with France against
  the Duke of Milan, and this alliance, which caused their ruin, could
  have been avoided. But when it cannot be avoided, as happened to the
  Florentines when the Pope and Spain sent armies to attack Lombardy, then
  in such a case, for the above reasons, the prince ought to favour one of
  the parties.
  
  Never let any Government imagine that it can choose perfectly safe
  courses; rather let it expect to have to take very doubtful ones,
  because it is found in ordinary affairs that one never seeks to avoid
  one trouble without running into another; but prudence consists in
  knowing how to distinguish the character of troubles, and for choice to
  take the lesser evil.
  
  A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability, and to honour
  the proficient in every art. At the same time he should encourage his
  citizens to practise their callings peaceably, both in commerce and
  agriculture, and in every other following, so that the one should not be
  deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away
  from him or another from opening up trade for fear of taxes; but the
  prince ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and
  designs in any way to honour his city or state.
  
  Further, he ought to entertain the people with festivals and spectacles
  at convenient seasons of the year; and as every city is divided into
  guilds or into societies,(*) he ought to hold such bodies in esteem, and
  associate with them sometimes, and show himself an example of courtesy
  and liberality; nevertheless, always maintaining the majesty of his
  rank, for this he must never consent to abate in anything.
  
       (*) "Guilds or societies," "in arti o in tribu." "Arti" were
       craft or trade guilds, cf. Florio: "Arte . . . a whole
       company of any trade in any city or corporation town." The
       guilds of Florence are most admirably described by Mr
       Edgcumbe Staley in his work on the subject (Methuen, 1906).
       Institutions of a somewhat similar character, called
       "artel," exist in Russia to-day, cf. Sir Mackenzie Wallace's
       "Russia," ed. 1905: "The sons . . . were always during the
       working season members of an artel. In some of the larger
       towns there are artels of a much more complex kind--
       permanent associations, possessing large capital, and
       pecuniarily responsible for the acts of the individual
       members." The word "artel," despite its apparent similarity,
       has, Mr Aylmer Maude assures me, no connection with "ars" or
       "arte." Its root is that of the verb "rotisya," to bind
       oneself by an oath; and it is generally admitted to be only
       another form of "rota," which now signifies a "regimental
       company." In both words the underlying idea is that of a
       body of men united by an oath. "Tribu" were possibly gentile
       groups, united by common descent, and included individuals
       connected by marriage. Perhaps our words "sects" or "clans"
       would be most appropriate.
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter 21
target: Nothing enhances a ruler's reputation more than undertaking great conquests. Ferdinand of Spain's career provides a good example. He had attacked Granada; driven the Moors out of Spain; and attacked Africa, Italy, and France. These activities kept his subjects amazed and preoccupied, so that no one had time to do anything against him. With regard to internal affairs, princes should always find noteworthy ways to reward or punish any extraordinary actions. Rulers must never remain neutral. If neighboring rulers fight, you must take sides, because if you do not, the winner will threaten you, and the loser will not befriend you. Whether or not your ally wins, he will be grateful to you. However, if you can avoid it, you should never ally with someone more powerful than yourself, because if he wins, you may be in his power. A prince should show that he loves talent and rewards it. He should encourage his citizens to prosper in their occupations. He should keep the people entertained with festivals at appropriate times. And he should give attention to the various civic groups, attending some of their activities, but without appearing undignified.
feat_summary_analysis: Reputation and public image are the topics of this chapter. Conquests and daring deeds are the first way to enhance one's reputation. King Ferdinand of Spain is Machiavelli's exemplar, but he gets ambiguous treatment. Although Machiavelli calls him the most famous and glorious prince in Christendom, he also has harsh words for Ferdinand's expulsion of the Moors from Spain, calling it a despicable act done under a religious pretext. In Chapter 18, Machiavelli made a not-very-subtle reference to Ferdinand's penchant for trickery and deceit. Clearly he admires Ferdinand's boldness and energy, but deplores his actions. The emphasis on Ferdinand's ability to keep his subjects amazed and preoccupied recalls the description of Cesare Borgia's execution of Remirro de Orco, which left the people stunned and satisfied. Machiavelli specifically mentions public spectacles at the end of this chapter, and there is a suggestion that spectacle, whether in the form of entertaining festivals, dramatic executions, or daring schemes, is one of the prince's most important tools for controlling public opinion. In the same way, rewarding citizens' achievements or punishing their misdeeds should have an element of spectacle. It should make people talk, and when they talk, it should be about how remarkable the prince is. Machiavelli's other recommendation has to do with decisiveness. Not surprisingly, given his preference for bold action, Machiavelli deplores princes who try to remain neutral in disputes. He presents this as a practical consideration: If a prince fails to take sides, he may find himself without friends when the dust settles. In this discussion, Machiavelli makes one of his few positive statements about human behavior, remarking that men are not so dishonorable nor ungrateful that they will immediately turn on their allies. Given Machiavelli's own advice to the prince in Chapter 18 to break his word when it suits his goals, the reader may have difficulty taking seriously Machiavelli's assurances in this case. Returning to his theme of maintaining good relationships with one's subjects, Machiavelli says that a prince should reward merit and encourage prosperity, because achievements by the citizens improve the state. Princes should show themselves to be friendly to their subjects but without compromising the dignity of their office. Maintaining a certain distance keeps an air of grandeur intact. Glossary Moors Islamic residents of Spain, the Moors had invaded from north Africa in the early eighth century and controlled large portions of Spain until Ferdinand drove them out during the Reconquest, completed by 1500. Ferdinand expelled the Jews at the same time, in his desire to make Spain a pure Christian nation. Machiavelli implies that this was a purely political maneuver done under a religious pretext. Bernabo Bernabo Visconti , ruler of Milan, was famous for giving bizarre punishments.