Machiavelli his life and times Essay -- Philosophy, Machiavelli, The

What is white, Italian, starts with a ‘M’, and is hated all over? No, it’s not mozzarella cheese it is Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was a Florentine chancellor and a well known philosopher. He is notoriously known for being amoral and his entire collection of works was on the Papal Index (Machiavelli’s The Prince). Though he lived during the 1400’s his works are still being read, analyzed, scrutinized, and, in the case of modern politicians, used as a blueprint in how to run a nation. Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 to Bernardo di Niccolo and Bartolomea Nelli (Machiavelli Pg. 145). The Machiavelli name, at one time, came from the Tuscan nobility, though by the time of Niccolo’s birth the only thing left was a little bit of country property and some houses in Florence (Machiavelli and Renaissance Italy pg.28). Niccolo’s father, despite being a lawyer, was a tad less successful than the other branch of Machiavelli’s and he used everything he earned as a lawyer to care for his four children. Machiavelli shared a household with his two sisters, Primavera and Margherita and his brother Totto (pg 28.). Machiavelli’s mother was known for being a religious poet, ironic given her son’s view on religion. In 1498, Niocolo was elected to office as Second Chancellor (pg. 32) His job description was simply to make sure the policy decisions of others were put into effect. In 1502 Machiavelli was wed to his wife, Marietta di Ludovic o Corsini, many sources state that she was probably a very patient person and a beneficent influence on Machiavelli’s life (Machiavelli pg. 149). Machiavelli had six children: Bernardo, Baccia, Ludovico, Piero, Guido and an unnamed daughter. In 1503 he arrived in Rome and took notes on a Papal elect... ... standards. This work also previews Machiavelli’s utter disgust with mankind and he is quoted in saying â€Å"If men were good, then one should be good in return, ‘but because men are wretched creatures, who would not keep their word to you, you need not keep your word to them.’ (Pg 152) Machiavelli also states that â€Å"men will always be false to you unless they are compelled by necessity to be true.† (Pg. 152) One can see where he draws up his conclusion that acting immoral to gain a prince hood is acceptable. To Machiavelli, he is just doing to one, that one would do to him. It is interesting to see the connections between this text written in the 1500’s to modern day politicians now. Many people could agree that The Prince is a handbook to such figures as Stalin or Hitler but many more could see the relation between Machiavelli’s word and George W. Bush’s actions.