ad a taste of freedom, they virtually cannot live without it. This feeling of control over one’s life is a quality that once molded is nearly impossible to reshape. Machiavelli asserts this idea when he writes, “a city used to freedom can be more easily ruled through its own citizens...than in any other way.” The same tendency lies in the control that the prince gains over the people in the principality. Once the prince has control he finds that giving up control to be extremely difficult. That is why ideally a prince would posses a number of qualities to find success as a leader. Only through an understanding of the nature of his subjects, having an ability to control his subjects, and possessing the means to defend his subjects can “the prince” truly find the universal key to open the door to upholding the ideals of practical leadership. When a prince understands the nature of the people it is easier for him to enter the land. Machiavelli writes of the Romans and how they developed their empire, “the Aetolians once brought the Romans into Greece; and in every other country they invaded, the Romans were brought in by the inhabitants.” Because the Romans understood human nature their movement into power was unchallenged. Once in power it is essential for the prince to be able to control the people. “I say that a prince must want to have a reputation for compassion rather than cruelty: none the less, he must be careful that he does not make bad use of compassion.” When Machiavelli wrote this he was outlining the key to controlling the people. The prince needs to be able to keep the people united, and loyal to him and at the same time ensure respect for the laws by instilling a fear for punishment. One of Machiavelli’s most used examples of a successful prince is Cesare Borgia. It is essential to be feared not hated and in the case of Borgia his minister Remirro de Orco punished ...
