ed” (651). Machiavelli did not feel that a Prince should mistreat the citizens. This suggestion once again to serve the Prince’s best interests. If a Prince can not be both feared and loved, Machiavelli suggests, it would be better for him to be feared by the citizens within his own dogma. He makes the generalization that men are, “… ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain; and while you work for their good they are yours” (649). He characterizes men as being self-centered and not willing to act in the best interest of the state,” and when it (danger) comes nearer to you they turn away” (649). Machiavelli reinforces the Prince’s need to be feared by stating: “…men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared…” (649). The bond of love is one which men, the wretched creatures they are, break when it is to their advantage to do so; “… fear is held together by a dread of punishment which will never abandon you”(649). Machiavelli suggests that the key to being a good “prince,” is deception. “It is necessary to know how to disguise this nature well and to be a great hypocrite and a liar: and men are so simple-minded and so controlled by their present necessities that one who deceives will always find another who will allow himself to be deceived” (651). Machiavelli states that men judge more, ”with their eyes than with their hands.” And with this Machiavelli claims that, “everyone sees what you seem to be, few people perceive what you are,” (652) and those who do realize what the Prince is, dare not tell, for the Prince has the power of the masses to protect him. Machiavelli, in a sense, describes how to live, successfully and prosperously, by dealing with the human’s nature. He details how one is to manipul...
