Machiavelli and Renaissance Humanism

spiritual rebirth Hu human besism is defined as a lit geological erary and linguistic movement-an effort to revive classical Latin (and later Greek), as well as the values and sensibilities that came with the language (Hunt et al, 415). I think that Machiavelli was a humanist of his era because in his writing The Prince, he relied on history to provide a handbook to future principles and princes. Machiavelli drew a lot of this guidebook from his past relations with politicians and their self-ambitious monarchies.In my opinion he wrote this guide to as a carriage to channelise future princes that the ways of the past should be adhered to in locate for Italy to regain its prior glory. In The Prince Machiavelli uses many examples from history to show that we fatality to embrace the past in order to gain a golden future. Machiavellis, The Prince serves as a handbook to future rulers with their roles and responsibilities. Machiavelli begins his handbook with his view of tremend ous virtues.He argues that in order for a person to be a good leader and stay in rule he moldiness non just be a good person simply that he must learn how to non be good (Law any et al, 1951) in order to protect himself from anyone trying to overtake his rule. He must ever be prepared and not make himself the good guy whole the time. Machiavelli shows that world a good person all of the time exit only allow for the bad state to over powerfulness the good people, because anyone who determines to figure in all circumstances the part of a good man must come to ruin among so many who are not good (Lawall et al, 1951).Machiavelli goes on to further his humanistic views on how a prince should be viewed by his people. He discusses the choices a person of power has in being liberal (1952) and generous or stingy. He goes on to say that being too liberal will bring a man of power to ruin and that being frugal is important. He explains that as long as a ruler abstains from the proper ty of his citizens and subjects he will gain the regard of his people. He goes on to discuss that a ruler will be more respected if he is living and spending other peoples money.He discusses the examples set by Cyrus, Caesar, and Alexander in which they lived mutilate plunder, loot and ransom (1953). These three rulers were spending the money of others (1953) and therefore were not hurting themselves by having to spend what was already theirs. Machiavelli goes on to explain that secret code eats itself up as fast as does liberality (1953) because when well(p) it can lead to poverty and will make a ruler have to raise taxes which will in turn bring aversion on by his people (1953).Machiavelli also discusses the importance of being feared and love as well as, being thought of as cruel however compassionate all at the same time. He uses Dido and Borgia as examples. Borgia is apply as the example for cruelty. He says that because Borgia was so cruel his cruelness brought successf ulness and unity to Romagna and therefore was prosperous because of the fear that he instilled in his people. still because his Senate was too compassionate he lost his clout (1954).Machiavelli also explains that a new prince is going to face several challenges and because of this will be confront to make very hard decisions that may or may not hurt his reputation among his people. Here he uses Virgils Dido as an example, heavily circumstances and the newness of my realm force me to do such things, and to keep fool over all my lands (1954). From these examples, Machiavelli is telling his reader that as a prince they must be flexible and show cruelty or compassion when unavoidable in any situation.Machiavelli goes on to state that a prince should be easy in believing and acting, and should make no one afraid of himso that too much confidence does not make him incautious, and too much suspicion does not make him unbearable (1954). This is the way to keep patronize from his peopl e and will not turn their backs on him when the going gets tough. renascence Humanism is defined as a literary and linguistic movement-an sample to revive classical Latin (and later Greek), as well as the values and sensibilities that came with the language (Hunt et al, 415).Machiavellis The Prince was essentially a handbook for how a Prince should portray himself but could also be seen as a day to day handbook by the everyday people of his time for they were all faced with the same moral decisions on a daily basis. Machiavelli apply The Prince as a gateway to create a moral and philosophical guide for all people in general and uses examples from history to show that the past needs to be embraced in order to gain a prosperous future.