Machiavelli's Discourses Summary

which will not be difficult, for all they ask is not to be oppressed… all else seek to win the populace over to his side. Which will be easy to do if he protects their interests” (Machiavelli 32). This an important point that every ruler should have into account if they want to have a loyal populace, it is in some way logical and realist: if a ruler stays in good terms with his people, then they will follow him; if this person is not on the side of the people, then why should the people should him? In the same way, talking about his second letter that he called The Discourses, where Machiavelli talks about the different Rome empires and takes them as examples in order to a solid government ruled by one individual. He believed that all periods of time are similar, that is why he used Rome as an example to illustrate what is wrong in a government and the good things (Machiavelli 84-85). One good example that Machiavelli gives in chapter seventeen is about “How corrupt people who came to be free can only hold on their freedom with the greatest of difficulties” (Machiavelli 124). Machiavelli explains that if an individual has become corrupted, there is no chance that they could be reformed, but the only way that a person can be healed from corruption is if they use virtu because they acquire liberty to have the intention to be good and change. “[I]t happens because of the skill [virtu] of one individual who is present by chance, not because of the strength
Aristotle and Machiavelli analyze every aspect of the human being to conceive their two theories, and they are aware that human beings are not perfect as Plato and More illustrated in their works who believe that humans have no feeling, or sense, or courage to make changes in their lives. People have a free will and moral principles, they are free to choose whatever is in the benefit of them and their