Governing

Ordinary citizens have always struggled to recognize that the ruling class has always been in the business of sustaining and augmenting its power and wealth, and has always regarded ordinary citizens as naive and easy to manipulate. Such is the theme of Machiavelli’s political handbook, The Prince. Since it was published in 1532, many have interpreted the book to mean that Machiavelli advocated ruthlessness and deception as a matter of preference. This is a misunderstanding. Machiavelli believed that, because most people are ignorant, selfish, foolish, avid for gain and lacking the ability to feel lasting gratitude for their blessings, it is impossible for the Prince to govern them with complete honesty and transparency. The Prince must therefore never speak to the ordinary people in the same way he speaks to members of his ruling class about the exercise of power.