Difference between revisions of "Essay: The problem with leaders or managers following the advice of Niccolò Machiavelli"

Latest revision as of 20:53, April 16, 2024

Previously, I wrote the essay at: Jesus compared to Niccolò Machiavelli. There is a reason why Machiavelli is so widely hated and why Jesus Christ is so widely loved.

Quote of Niccolò Machiavelli from his book The Prince

Niccolò Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 to June 21, 1527) was an Italian diplomat, author, philosopher and historian who lived during the time of the Renaissance. He is most well known for his political treatise The Prince which many hold in low esteem.

Some scholars view Niccolò Machiavelli's book The Prince as a manual for tyrannical rulers on how they should acquire and retain power.^[1] In contemporary times, some scholars, such as Leo Strauss, have reiterated the long-held opinion that Machiavelli was a "teacher of evil".^[2]

Quote of Niccolò Machiavelli from his book The Prince

Quote of Niccolò Machiavelli from his book The Prince^[3]

Portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli by Santi di Tito.

The problem with leaders, managers/administrators and others following the advice of Niccolò Machiavelli

Question: If a person were to want to follow the advice of Niccolò Machiavelli and become a "great liar and deceiver" how would they best do it?

Answer: How do you get good at anything? For example, how do you get good at playing the violin or piano? Practice, practice, practice of course.

The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky in his book The Brothers Karamazov wrote: “Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”

Once you people skilled at lying or even constantly lie badly, it becomes easy to engage in self-deception - even if you don't wish to engage in self-deception. And a ruler needs sound judgment. Leaders who constantly lie to themselves don't have good judgment.

And whether you are a leader, manager/administrator, you are not going to have the respect of others if you have bad judgment or if people don't have respect for you because you are a liar.

"...and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” - Jesus Christ

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Niccolò Machiavelli posing for a statue while thinking of his next "great" deception.

General essays about life

• Grit, the key to outstanding achievements
• Cut toxic people out of your life and replace them with edifying achievers who inspire you
• Toxic gamma males. Keep them out of your life and organizations
• Ultimately, losers never win
• Don't believe all the political news "facts" and predictions you read on the internet and see on the news
• Don't pine for a problem-free life or for "problem child" people to be gone from your life

User: Conservative's essays

• User:Conservative's essays

External links

• Machiavelli: ‘Jesus Was a Nice Guy Who Finished Last’, Preaching Today website

• A Crash Course on Machiavelli, Gospel Coalition website

• Machiavellian Politics vs. The Politics of Christ, Raven Foundation

References