History Creator / NiccoloMachiavelli

However, one must be careful not to assume that Machiavelli was truly pro-democracy. In ''Discourses on Livy'', he takes the time to state that pure democracy isn't a great idea either, and the best form of government is one that combines democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy so that the different social classes can keep each other in check. On the other hand, the liberal movement which (openly or otherwise) adopted Machiavelli's philosophy more or less took the same opinion. Indeed, modern representative democracy would rather please Machiavelli, as it more or less reflects his ideals (a popularly-elected legislature is ''not'' a democracy as he understood it, but close enough to serve in the position in his three-in-one system;[[note]]To elaborate, Machiavelli considered Rome the model, and Rome was a single small republic that conquered and collected tribute from other city-states and thus could have a direct-democratic element in the city. The idea of ''representative'' government was essentially an English invention, and the idea that the territory of a republic could--indeed, ''should''--encompass thousands of square miles was straight from the mind of JamesMadison--who, incidentally, made no bones about his interest in Machiavelli.[[/note]] the modern investment of a great deal of power in [[AmericanPoliticalSystem directly-elected presidents]] and [[UsefulNotes/BritishPoliticalSystem indirectly-elected prime ministers]] is a pretty good approximation of his idea of "monarchy"; and both the role of less-representative upper legislative houses--like the US Senate and British Lords--and small, well-educated judicial courts are close to his concept of "aristocracy").

* DeadpanSnarker: A common way of portraying Machiavelli in fiction but also TruthInTelevision. This can be seen in his account of a dream he had where he saw all the saints in {{Heaven}} and philosophers like {{Plato}} in {{Hell}}. When he told this dream to his friends, Machiavelli said that he'd [[AHellOfATime rather be in Hell with interesting people]] than in Heaven where everyone was boring and good.

* SelfDeprecatingHumour: Somewhat bizarrely. According to his friends, Francesco Vettori and Francesco Guicciardini, Machiavelli frequently put himself at the butt of other people's jokes. A sort of self-imposed ButtMonkey.

* BeamMeUpScotty: He's quoted as saying that it's better for a ruler to be feared rather than loved in ''Literature/ThePrince''. To be fair he did say that, but only if you couldn't be both; it's best if you are feared ''and'' loved.

However, one must be careful not to assume that Machiavelli was truly pro-democracy. In ''Discourses on Livy'', he takes the time to state that pure democracy isn't a great idea either, and the best form of government is one that combines democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy so that the different social classes can keep each other in check. On the other hand, the liberal movement which (openly or otherwise) adopted Machiavelli's philosophy more or less took the same opinion. Indeed, modern representative democracy would rather please Machiavelli, as it more or less reflects his ideals (a popularly-elected legislature is ''not'' a democracy as he understood it, but close enough to serve in the position in his three-in-one system;[[note]]To elaborate, Machiavelli considered Rome the model, and Rome was a single small republic that conquered and collected tribute from other city-states and thus could have a direct-democratic element in the city. The idea of ''representative'' government was essentially an English invention, and the idea that the territory of a republic could--indeed, ''should''--encompass thousands of square miles was straight from the mind of JamesMadison--who, incidentally, made no bones about his interest in Machiavelli.[[/note]] the modern investment of a great deal of power in [[AmericanPoliticalSystem directly-elected presidents]] and [[BritishPoliticalSystem indirectly-elected prime ministers]] is a pretty good approximation of his idea of "monarchy"; and both the role of less-representative upper legislative houses--like the US Senate and British Lords--and small, well-educated judicial courts are close to his concept of "aristocracy").

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavegli (1469-1527) was a Florentine writer, philosopher, and political theorist active at a time of great chaos and turmoil throughout Italy. He is best-known for writing ''Literature/ThePrince'', a handbook for the ruling Medici family on how to most effectively run a principality. Due to ''The Prince'' being his best-known work, coupled with the fact that [[MainstreamObscurity few who quote it have actually read it]], Machiavelli's name has become a byword for being a ruthless, manipulative, backstabbing bastard; so much so that in Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'', Machiavelli is presented as one who has made a DealWithTheDevil, and the term ''Old Nick'' to refer to TheDevil may also be derived from his forename.

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 - 1527) was a Florentine writer, philosopher, and political theorist active at a time of great chaos and turmoil throughout Italy. He is best-known for writing ''Literature/ThePrince'', a handbook for the ruling Medici family on how to most effectively run a principality. Due to ''The Prince'' being his best-known work, coupled with the fact that [[MainstreamObscurity few who quote it have actually read it]], Machiavelli's name has become a byword for being a ruthless, manipulative, backstabbing bastard; so much so that in Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'', Machiavelli is presented as one who has made a DealWithTheDevil, and the term ''Old Nick'' to refer to TheDevil may also be derived from his forename.

** interesting because he is born either before his time or ahead of it---or both

This reputation is perhaps undeserved as some of his other works, notably ''Literature/DiscoursesOnLivy'', are all about successfully running republics, and even in ''The Prince'' he states that a republic is the best form of government. In the eighteenth century the view that the book was actually an [[StealthParody elaborate]] [[{{Trollfic}} parody]] became fashionable given both the nature of Machiavelli's other works and the fact that ''The Prince'' was written just after he was stripped of his power, imprisoned, and tortured by the Medicis. In early nineteenth century Germany it became fashionable to suggest that ''The Prince'' needed to be judged relatively. Hegel argued that it was written for a certain time and certain locale and to judge it based on contemporary morality and from the perspective of someone living in a unified nation state was unfair. Since the mid-twentieth century, the most common interpretation of ''The Prince'' is that it simply describes [[FrancisBacon "what men do, and not what they ought to do"]] and that it is the first true work to deal with politics as a branch of science and not ethics. Another unfair misinterpretation of Machiavelli is seeing him as someone who wrote for the benefit of [insert favorite mass murdering tyrant here]. This is unfair to Machiavelli considering that someone like Hitler doesn't need a centuries dead philosopher to give him permission to go on a murderous rampage, whereas a democratic leader with a strong moral compass like Abe Lincoln or Winston Churchill might have doubts about what their duties as a leader are. And, for that matter, Machiavelli would probably have approved of pragmatic democratic statesmen like Nixon or Disraeli more than insane ideologues like Hitler or Stalin.

This reputation is perhaps undeserved as some of his other works, notably ''Literature/DiscoursesOnLivy'', are all about successfully running republics, and even in ''The Prince'' he states that a republic is the best form of government. In the eighteenth century the view that the book was actually an [[StealthParody elaborate]] [[{{Trollfic}} parody]] became fashionable given both the nature of Machiavelli's other works and the fact that ''The Prince'' was written just after he was stripped of his power, imprisoned, and tortured by the Medicis. In early nineteenth century Germany it became fashionable to suggest that ''The Prince'' needed to be judged relatively. Hegel argued that it was written for a certain time and certain locale and to judge it based on contemporary morality and from the perspective of someone living in a unified nation state was unfair. Since the mid-twentieth century, the most common interpretation of ''The Prince'' is that it simply describes [[FrancisBacon "what men do, and not what they ought to do"]] and that it is the first true work to deal with politics as a branch of science and not ethics.

Like many of that era, Machiavelli believed that AncientRome was the peak of human civilisation, particularly the Roman Republic, and he often uses its example to illustrate political points.

* RenaissanceMan: Amongst other things, Niccolo Machiavelli was a poet, a playwright, a musician, a statesman, a diplomat, a writer, a philosopher, an humanist, an historian and a patron of the arts.

* BornInTheWrongCentury: He shared the [[RenaissanceMan Renaissance mentality]] of being several centuries ahead of his time and of wanting to live in AncientRome. See the {{Cosplay}} example below.
* {{Cosplay}}: A truly weird example, but Machiavelli actually used to dress up in a toga and pretend to be a [[AncientRome Roman]]. Overlaps with OneOfUs.

* ''The Art of War'' (1519; no, not [[Literature/TheArtOfWar that one]])

However, one must be careful not to assume that Machiavelli was truly pro-democracy. In ''Discourses on Livy'', he takes the time to state that pure democracy isn't a great idea either, and the best form of government is one that combines democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy so that the different social classes can keep each other in check. On the other hand, the liberal movement which (openly or otherwise) adopted Machiavelli's philosophy more or less took the same opinion. Indeed, modern representative democracy would rather please Machiavelli, as it more or less reflects his ideals (a popularly-elected legislature is ''not'' a democracy as he understood it, but close enough to serve in the position in his three-in-one system;[[note]]To elaborate, Machiavelli considered Rome the model, and Rome was a single small republic that conquered and collected tribute from other city-states and thus could have a direct-democratic element in the city. The idea of ''representative'' government was essentially an English invention, and the idea that the territory of a republic could encompass thousands of square miles was straight from the mind of JamesMadison--who, incidentally, made no bones about his interest in Machiavelli.[[/note]] the modern investment of a great deal of power in [[AmericanPoliticalSystem directly-elected presidents]] and [[BritishPoliticalSystem indirectly-elected prime ministers]] is a pretty good approximation of his idea of "monarchy"; and both the role of less-representative upper legislative houses--like the US Senate and British Lords--and small, well-educated judicial courts are close to his concept of "aristocracy").

However, one must be careful not to assume that Machiavelli was truly pro-democracy. In ''Discourses on Livy'', he takes the time to state that pure democracy isn't a great idea either, and the best form of government is one that combines democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy so that the different social classes can keep each other in check. On the other hand, the liberal movement which (openly or otherwise) adopted Machiavelli's philosophy more or less took the same opinion. Indeed, modern representative democracy would rather please Machiavelli, as it more or less reflects his ideals (a popularly-elected legislature is ''not'' a democracy as he understood it, but close enough to serve in the position in his three-in-one system;[[note]]To elaborate, Machiavelli considered Rome the model, which was a single small republic that conquered and collected tribute from other city-states; the idea of ''representative'' government was essentially an English invention, and the idea that the territory of a republic could encompass thousands of square miles was straight from the mind of JamesMadison--who, incidentally, made no bones about his interest in Machiavelli.[[/note]] the modern investment of a great deal of power in [[AmericanPoliticalSystem directly-elected presidents]] and [[BritishPoliticalSystem indirectly-elected prime ministers]] is a pretty good approximation of his idea of "monarchy"; and both the role of less-representative upper legislative houses--like the US Senate and British Lords--and small, well-educated judicial courts are close to his concept of "aristocracy").

However, one must be careful not to assume that Machiavelli was truly pro-democracy. In ''Discourses on Livy'', he takes the time to state that pure democracy isn't a great idea either, and the best form of government is one that combines democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy so that the different social classes can keep each other in check. On the other hand, the liberal movement which (openly or otherwise) adopted Machiavelli's philosophy more or less took the same opinion. Indeed, modern representative democracy would rather please Machiavelli, as it more or less reflects his ideals (a popularly-elected legislature is ''not'' a democracy as he understood it, but close enough to serve in the position in his three-in-one system;[[note]]To elaborate, Machiavelli considered Rome the model, which was a single small republic that conquered and collected tribute from other city-states; the idea of ''representative'' government was essentially an English invention, and the idea that the territory of a republic could encompass thousands of square miles was straight from the mind of JamesMadison--who, incidentally, made no bones about his interest in Machiavelli.]] the modern investment of a great deal of power in [[AmericanPoliticalSystem directly-elected presidents]] and [[BritishPoliticalSystem indirectly-elected prime ministers]] is a pretty good approximation of his idea of "monarchy"; and both the role of less-representative upper legislative houses--like the US Senate and British Lords--and small, well-educated judicial courts are close to his concept of "aristocracy").

However, one must be careful not to assume that Machiavelli was truly pro-democracy. In ''Discourses on Livy'', he takes the time to state that pure democracy isn't a great idea either, and the best form of government is one that combines democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy so that the different social classes can keep each other in check. On the other hand, the liberal movement which (openly or otherwise) adopted Machiavelli's philosophy more or less took the same opinion. Indeed, modern representative democracy would rather please Machiavelli, as it more or less reflects his ideals (a popularly-elected legislature is ''not'' a democracy as he understood it, but close enough to serve in the position in his three-in-one system; the modern investment of a great deal of power in [[AmericanPoliticalSystem directly-elected presidents]] and [[BritishPoliticalSystem indirectly-elected prime ministers]] is a pretty good approximation of his idea of "monarchy"; and both the role of less-representative upper legislative houses--like the US Senate and British Lords--and small, well-educated judicial courts are close to his concept of "aristocracy").

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527) was a Florentine writer, philosopher, and political theorist active at a time of great chaos and turmoil throughout Italy. He is best-known for writing ''Literature/ThePrince'', a handbook for the ruling Medici family on how to most effectively run a principality. Due to ''The Prince'' being his best-known work, coupled with the fact that [[MainstreamObscurity few who quote it have actually read it]], Machiavelli's name has become a byword for being a ruthless, manipulative, backstabbing bastard; so much so that in Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'', Machiavelli is presented as one who has made a DealWithTheDevil, and the term ''Old Nick'' to refer to TheDevil may also be derived from his forename.

This reputation is perhaps undeserved as some of his other works, notably ''Literature/DiscoursesOnLivy'', are all about successfully running republics, and even in ''The Prince'' he states that a republic is the best form of government. In the eighteenth century the view that the book was actually an [[StealthParody elaborate]] [[{{Trollfic}} parody]] became fashionable given both the nature of Machiavelli's other works and the fact that ''ThePrince'' was written just after he was stripped of his power, imprisoned, and tortured by the Medicis. In early nineteenth century Germany it became fashionable to suggest that ''ThePrince'' needed to be judged relatively. Hegel argued that it was written for a certain time and certain locale and to judge it based on contemporary morality and from the perspective of someone living in a unified nation state was unfair. Since the mid-twentieth century, the most common interpretation of ''ThePrince'' is that it simply describes [[FrancisBacon "what men do, and not what they ought to do"]] and that it is the first true work to deal with politics as a branch of science and not ethics.

* ''The Golden Ass'' (1517) (not original, though, actually written first by a Roman Apuleius)
* ''The Mandrake'' (1524)

* ''The Golden Ass'' (1517)

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527) was a Florentine writer, philosopher, and political theorist active at a time of great chaos and turmoil throughout Italy. He is best-known for writing ''Literature/ThePrince'', a handbook for the ruling Medici family on how to most effectively run a principality. Due to ''The Prince'' being his best-known work, coupled with the fact that [[MainstreamObscurity few who quote it have actually read it]], Machiavelli's name has become a byword for being a ruthless, manipulative, backstabbing bastard; so much so that in ChristopherMarlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'', Machiavelli is presented as one who has made a DealWithTheDevil, and the term ''Old Nick'' to refer to TheDevil may also be derived from his forename.