In his most famous work, THE PRINCE (Il Principe), Machiavelli described the ideal prince and encouraged the people of Italy to imagine what it might be like if such a person led a unified Italy. Written in 1513 and published posthumously in 1532, THE PRINCE has been interpreted both as a genuine handbook for potential rulers and as a satirical portrait of certain pr...
In his most famous work, THE PRINCE (Il Principe), Machiavelli described the ideal prince and encouraged the people of Italy to imagine what it might be like if such a person led a unified Italy. Written in 1513 and published posthumously in 1532, THE PRINCE has been interpreted both as a genuine handbook for potential rulers and as a satirical portrait of certain prevailing styles of leadership of the time. Instead of advocating a sense of moral obligation to one's constituents, Machiavelli believed that it is far better for a leader to be feared than liked. He believed that the ends justify the means, and deceit, ruthlessness, and greed are acceptable in the interest of maintaining power. Though THE PRINCE may have influenced Hitler and Mussolini, the Machiavellian principles outlined in it have earned the work a place on many, if not most, lists of required reading for government and political science courses.
Size
Length: 184 pages
Height: 8.3 in.
Width: 5.5 in.
Thickness: 0.5 in.
Weight: 7.2 oz.
Publisher's Note
The most famous book on politics ever written, The Prince remains as lively and as shocking today as when it was written almost five hundred years ago. Initially denounced as a collection of sinister maxims and as a recommendation of tyranny, it has more recently been defended and indeed applauded as the first scientific treatment of politics as it is rather than as it ought to be. A masterpiece of effective prose, The Prince is at once comic and formidable, imaginative and calculating, fascinating and chilling. Its influence in modern history has been profound, and -- often considered to be the first modern book -- it was surely a primary text for the modern philosophers who challenged the traditions of ancient and medieval thought and morality. Harvey C. Mansfield's translation brilliantly recreates the subtlety and terseness of Machiavelli's own prose while presenting an eminently readable text. Written in accessible and idiomatic English, it is the most literal and accurate translation available. In this second edition, Mansfield provides an analytic introduction, an updated bibliography, a chronology of Machiavelli's life, a map of Italy in his time, a substantial glossary, revisions to the translation itself, and Machiavelli's celebrated letter to Vettori in which he discusses The Prince. Mansfield's translation of this classic work, in combination with the new materials added for this edition, makes it the definitive version of The Prince, indispensable to scholars, students, and lovers of the dark art of politics.
Industry reviews
"If you're going into the trade or the business I'm in, Machiavelli's The Prince is the bible. You'd better read it, and you'd better reread it. The wisdom contained in that book stands you in good stead, for the nature of the public policy options that I exercise, and the techniques that are employed, and the assessment of your competition. I would recommend that to be read over, and over, and over, until death."
Hon. Willie L. Brown Jr.
An inexpensive but high quality translation of the classic Italian Renaissance statement of what has come to be called realpolitik. The translator, Paul Sonnino, presents an easily readable English but also takes care to render Italian words into English cognates or at least to use the same word consistently so the reader gets a sense of what terms and concepts Machiavelli repeated and in what context. Lightly annotated. Paper edition (unseen), $9.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Reference & Research Book News (08/01/1996)
An inexpensive but high quality translation of the classic Italian Renaissance statement of what has come to be called realpolitik. The translator, Paul Sonnino, presents an easily readable English but also takes care to render Italian words into English cognates or at least to use the same word consistently so the reader gets a sense of what terms and concepts Machiavelli repeated and in what context. Lightly annotated. Paper edition (unseen), $9.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Reference & Research Book News (08/01/1996)
作者简介
· · · · · ·
Niccolò Machiavelli (born May 3, 1469, Florence-died June 21, 1527, Florence) Italian statesman, historian, and political theorist. He rose to power after the overthrow of Girolamo Savonarola, was appointed secretary and Second Chancellor to the Florentine Republic in 1498. Working as a diplomat for 14 years, he came in contact with the most powerful figures in Europe. He was d...
Niccolò Machiavelli (born May 3, 1469, Florence-died June 21, 1527, Florence) Italian statesman, historian, and political theorist. He rose to power after the overthrow of Girolamo Savonarola, was appointed secretary and Second Chancellor to the Florentine Republic in 1498. Working as a diplomat for 14 years, he came in contact with the most powerful figures in Europe. He was dismissed when the Medici family returned to power in 1512, and during the next year he was arrested and tortured for conspiracy. Though soon released, he was not permitted to return to public office. His famous treatise The Prince (1513, published 1532) is a handbook for rulers; though dedicated to Lorenzo de' Medici, ruler of Florence from 1513, it failed to win Machiavelli his favour. Machiavelli viewed The Prince as an objective description of political reality. Because he viewed human nature as venal, grasping, and thoroughly self-serving, he suggested that ruthless cunning is appropriate to the conduct of government. Though admired for its incisive brilliance, the book also has been widely condemned as cynical and amoral, and “Machiavellian” has come to mean deceitful, unscrupulous, and manipulative. His other works include a set of discourses on Livy (completed c. 1518), the comedy The Mandrake (completed c. 1518), The Art of War (published 1521), and the Florentine Histories (completed c. 1525).
Harvey C. Mansfield is William J. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Government at Harvard University. He is the author of many books including, Statesmanship and Party Government, The Spirit of Liberalism, and Taming the Prince and is the translator of works by Machiavelli and Tocqueville.
world is going back to isolationism, protectionism, local supply chains. Gov’ts printing so much money to protect economy for 6 months it’s gonna ruin fiat currencies. It was inevitable this would ha... world is going back to isolationism, protectionism, local supply chains. Gov’ts printing so much money to protect economy for 6 months it’s gonna ruin fiat currencies. It was inevitable this would happen at some point but this corona virus expedited the timeline massively(展开)
4.5 在宗教主宰的当时,马基雅维利能提出不从宗教或道德出发的治世观点非常大胆新颖。读完并没有感觉马基雅维利像伊丽莎白时期的评价那般邪恶。相反,我很欣赏像俾斯麦和黎塞留从实际出发的realpolitik观点。能达到成绩就行,谁会管是以什么方法的呢?特别是道德这种东西是会随君主和时代改变的。追求道德可能会在当年受到崇敬,在后来又会被后人诟病。不过用道德和宗教粉饰自己的确很有用,可能也要像马基雅维利所...4.5 在宗教主宰的当时,马基雅维利能提出不从宗教或道德出发的治世观点非常大胆新颖。读完并没有感觉马基雅维利像伊丽莎白时期的评价那般邪恶。相反,我很欣赏像俾斯麦和黎塞留从实际出发的realpolitik观点。能达到成绩就行,谁会管是以什么方法的呢?特别是道德这种东西是会随君主和时代改变的。追求道德可能会在当年受到崇敬,在后来又会被后人诟病。不过用道德和宗教粉饰自己的确很有用,可能也要像马基雅维利所说的应时势而变,君主的道德标准也随之而变吧。再说,他在书中也说明了virtue不代表滥杀等。不过如今这个时代已经不是当年Might is Right的时代了,所以这些对以扩张为上的君主的建议已经过时了。但是,马基雅维利洞察到的人性的劣根性仍然对平凡人维系人际关系有用。他解疑了很多我读过的历史现象。(展开)
If all men were good, this teaching would not be good; but because they are wicked and do not observe faith with you, you also do not have to observe it with them... But it is necessary to know well how to color this nature, and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple and so obedient to present necessities that he who deceives will always find someone who will let himself ...
2020-12-07 01:44:371人喜欢
If all men were good, this teaching would not be good; but because they are wicked and do not observe faith with you, you also do not have to observe it with them... But it is necessary to know well how to color this nature, and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple and so obedient to present necessities that he who deceives will always find someone who will let himself be deceived.引自第70页
The wickedness of men renders it necessary for a prince to refrain from full honesty, but what renders it possible for him to be proactively dishonest is their credulity, not their wickedness. The purported wickedness of your "enemies" alone is a mere excuse for deceiving your "friends," by exploiting whose credulity you treat them as stupid subjects and wish for their remaining so.
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them. Surprisely, I find the original of judgement that lukewarm men have not future.
2022-08-07 11:19:37
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.引自第25页
Surprisely, I find the original of judgement that lukewarm men have not future.
A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability doesn't equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.
2022-08-06 21:35:11
A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability doesn't equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.引自第22页
For the Romans did in these what all wise princes should do: they not only have to have regard for present troubles but also for future ones and they have to avoid these with all their industry because, when one sees from afar, one can easily find a remedy for them but when you wait until they come close to you, the medicine is not in time because the disease has become incurable. And it happen...(2回应)
2013-04-16 08:53:47
For the Romans did in these what all wise princes should do: they not only have to have regard for present troubles but also for future ones and they have to avoid these with all their industry because, when one sees from afar, one can easily find a remedy for them but when you wait until they come close to you, the medicine is not in time because the disease has become incurable. And it happens with this as the physicians says of consumption, that in the beginning of the illness it is easy to cure and difficult to recognize, but in the progress of time, when it has not been recognized and treated in the beginning, it becomes easy to recognize and difficult to cure.引自 III
But, above all, he must abstain from the property of others. For men will sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. Ouch!!!
2019-02-20 11:50:49
But, above all, he must abstain from the property of others. For men will sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.引自 XVII
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them. Surprisely, I find the original of judgement that lukewarm men have not future.
2022-08-07 11:19:37
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.引自第25页
Surprisely, I find the original of judgement that lukewarm men have not future.
A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability doesn't equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.
2022-08-06 21:35:11
A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability doesn't equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.引自第22页
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them. Surprisely, I find the original of judgement that lukewarm men have not future.
2022-08-07 11:19:37
Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.引自第25页
Surprisely, I find the original of judgement that lukewarm men have not future.
A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability doesn't equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.
2022-08-06 21:35:11
A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability doesn't equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.引自第22页
......;because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate.
2022-08-06 21:07:16
......;because men, walking almost always in paths beaten by others, and following by imitation their deeds, are yet unable to keep entirely to the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate.引自第22页
But in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that te safest way is to destroy them or to reside there. But why it is different from the former
2022-08-05 08:02:19
But in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that te safest way is to destroy them or to reside there.引自第21页
0 有用 sirius_flower 2019-02-01 01:44:28
“你发表的关于《The Prince》的短评,因为 含有激进时政或意识形态方面的内容,已被移除。”
0 有用 潇潇 2010-08-09 04:13:56
邪恶的老马
2 有用 小李匪盗 2012-02-17 11:50:12
#翻书党#Harvey Mansfield的导读很好啊。值得读的书没那么多,返回经典。NM说人类头脑有三种,1自知的;2能判断谁知的;3以上皆非。自觉在2以下,略好于3。因为这本书里蕴含的太多陷阱都未能判断,固有文化背景的原因,但大部分是与NM这种1类头脑相去太远之故。对摩西的分析如果不是芝大社会思想委员会的F教授解释,恐怕一直蒙在鼓里了。
4 有用 王璞一零一 2016-11-26 03:14:58
读此书,应时势
0 有用 菜豹 2020-04-27 01:20:54
world is going back to isolationism, protectionism, local supply chains. Gov’ts printing so much money to protect economy for 6 months it’s gonna ruin fiat currencies. It was inevitable this would ha... world is going back to isolationism, protectionism, local supply chains. Gov’ts printing so much money to protect economy for 6 months it’s gonna ruin fiat currencies. It was inevitable this would happen at some point but this corona virus expedited the timeline massively (展开)
0 有用 豆友231754410 2022-07-14 07:38:06
英版《君主论》
0 有用 vivant: 2022-07-12 11:55:38
let‘s人人带军!
0 有用 读书看电影 2022-06-11 23:57:37
不能指望四两拨千斤,只有自己富国强军才是正道。
0 有用 深学季刊副主编 2022-05-30 10:20:25
最近在飞机上又读了一遍,真的是金句连连。以后我每发表一篇论文,都会尽量在正文前加入两个题记:一个是来自马基雅维利的话语,另一个则来自中国中古时期的士人。
0 有用 夕生晴Huee 2022-05-11 19:46:15
4.5 在宗教主宰的当时,马基雅维利能提出不从宗教或道德出发的治世观点非常大胆新颖。读完并没有感觉马基雅维利像伊丽莎白时期的评价那般邪恶。相反,我很欣赏像俾斯麦和黎塞留从实际出发的realpolitik观点。能达到成绩就行,谁会管是以什么方法的呢?特别是道德这种东西是会随君主和时代改变的。追求道德可能会在当年受到崇敬,在后来又会被后人诟病。不过用道德和宗教粉饰自己的确很有用,可能也要像马基雅维利所... 4.5 在宗教主宰的当时,马基雅维利能提出不从宗教或道德出发的治世观点非常大胆新颖。读完并没有感觉马基雅维利像伊丽莎白时期的评价那般邪恶。相反,我很欣赏像俾斯麦和黎塞留从实际出发的realpolitik观点。能达到成绩就行,谁会管是以什么方法的呢?特别是道德这种东西是会随君主和时代改变的。追求道德可能会在当年受到崇敬,在后来又会被后人诟病。不过用道德和宗教粉饰自己的确很有用,可能也要像马基雅维利所说的应时势而变,君主的道德标准也随之而变吧。再说,他在书中也说明了virtue不代表滥杀等。不过如今这个时代已经不是当年Might is Right的时代了,所以这些对以扩张为上的君主的建议已经过时了。但是,马基雅维利洞察到的人性的劣根性仍然对平凡人维系人际关系有用。他解疑了很多我读过的历史现象。 (展开)