The Prince is by far Machiavelli's most well known and important work. In 1513, after his exile from Florence, Machiavelli began this great work. In The Prince, Machiavelli dedicated it to Lorenzo de Medici, who never responded to the privately sent copy. Interestingly enough , the line of the Medici family represented the ineffectual leadership that Machiavelli disliked in The Prince. Machiavelli's work has long been infamous for what some consider its harsh, unscrupulous methods of obtaining power and in ruling. Some even go as far as to say that The Prince was the writing of an evil man. While on the surface, The work does appear rather harsh, Machiavelli illustrates his points with episodes from great men such as Julius Caesar, Cesare Borgia, and Pope Julius II. We come to the question, though, of whether his points truly were valid both in theory and reality.One point that Machiavelli makes is that it is good to be thought liberal, but it is bad to practice liberality. He says that if you practice liberality from the start, the people will basically become spoiled, and when you lay heavy burdens on them in times of war or depression, they will not consider you liberal anymore, and will dislike you. However, if you begin your reign parsimoniously, you will be able to have lower taxes and provide for the country's defense by exercising your prudence, and when the vast majority of people enjoy this, they will consider you liberal. I do not see this the same way as Machiavelli. Liberal does not necessarily mean careless. As long as the liberal prince is economically wise, lets his economy flourish, and is careful with how he spends the country's money, he will not be forced to levy huge taxes any more than the "parsimonious" prince will. The prince must be careful, but it is a bit extreme to say that he must be stingy and greedy.Another theory is that "it is not necessary for a prince to have all the virtues mentioned abo...
