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Intellectual Figure/Research Topic Assignment
Nicolo Machiavelli
Sergio M Davila
HIST 711
Development of Western Freedoms
Liberty University
Professor Sean Turchin
August 31, 2025
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Political power was considered a necessity for men, if they wanted to survive and be
considered a success, Nicola Machiavelli believed that this power would give men all the
amenities they desired. One of his life philosophies was that it was better to be feared than
loved.1 One of his cornerstone beliefs is that any ruler worth his mettle should keep and hold
power by any means necessary. To maintain power, Machiavelli was of the belief any leader
should use malice, violence, manipulation, and lies to keep their station of power afloat. While
employing malevolent means to keep their position, he has also stated that leadership must
maintain their power by employing their armed forces as a means to intimidate the populace
into submission. 2
While Machiavelli concurred that liberty was essential to keep a well-functioning society,
he also stated that individual rights must be proportional to the will of the state. In other words,
there should be limits to the liberty of all humankind for the common of law and order to the
country they are living in. Nicola Machiavelli’s theory on politics is that the state should grant
such liberties as the state shall see fit for its own security. He was pretty clear as to how much
true freedom the people would have. Enlightenment thinkers had a whole differing philosophy
on who would truly hold power within a country. Thinkers such as Voltaire and John Locke were
of the belief that the people were the true holders of power within a true democratic state. This
is where Machiavelli differed in their mindset. It was his philosophy that he believed that the
true power of the people resides within the leader of the country. Machiavelli is stating that
[1] Boucheron, Patrick. MACHIAVELLI: The Art of Teaching People What to Fear.
S.L.: Pushkin Press, 2021
[2] Mccormick, John P. Machiavellian Democracy. New York ; Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2011.
absolute power should solely reside within the leader of the country not the people. As it is, this
philosophy could be seen as the future of communist and autocratic governments in the future,
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where leaders usurp power through intimidation, coups, and murder. This way of handling
government affairs plagues the face of government today in countries such as the People’s
Republic of China, Russia, the United States, Cambodia, and Belarus.
While many of his negative ideas have corrupted various governments in the world
today, Machiavelli has had many ideas that are worthwhile to mention. His other ideas on
republicanism stressed the absolute importance of the people exercising their civic duties to
their mother country. Being a decent citizen and being involved in public service was an
essential in proving yourself a good, upstanding citizen in the country you live in. He believed
the people should put their personal interested to the side for the good of the state. Another
sketchy concept he has spouted in his time was that leaders shouldn’t be judged by their ability
to live by morality or ethics, but by their effectiveness as leaders. He also believed that some
checks and balances were necessary to rein in some leaders’ power-hungry megalomania, yet
he also stated that leaders should never be shy of grabbing power when they see fit.3
Machiavelli stated in his influential book, "The Prince," that power should be the be-all end-all
endgame of all leaders worthy of their mettle. Achieving said power can and will make it needed
to keep security and politically stable within said country. He also stated that the search for
power does necessitate the show of force and duplicity. It is essential, according to Nicolo
Machiavelli, that all leaders must grab power, by hook or by crook.4
[3] Niccolò Machiavelli. Nicolo Machiavelli the Complete Collection: (4 Books) the
Prince, the Art of War, the Discourses on Livy, History of Florence. McAllister, 2017.
[4] Skinner, Quentin. MACHIAVELLI : A Very Short Introduction. Oxford UniversityPress, 2019.
REFERENCES
[1] Boucheron, Patrick. MACHIAVELLI: The Art of Teaching People What to Fear.
S.L.: Pushkin Press, 2021
M a c h i a v e l l i P a g e | 4
[2] Mccormick, John P. Machiavellian Democracy. New York ; Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2011.
[3] Niccolò Machiavelli. Nicolo Machiavelli the Complete Collection: (4 Books) the
Prince, the Art of War, the Discourses on Livy, History of Florence. McAllister, 2017.
[4] Skinner, Quentin. MACHIAVELLI : A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2019.
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