Most notable among the Greek philosophers who inspired Machiavelli was Plato. In particular, Machiavelli took interest in Plato's concept of just rulers who ruled by moral virtue. ... Virtu is thus manliness, those qualities found in a "real man"" . ... On the other hand, Plato argues a ruler can never be unjust. ... The citizen, in order to create a strong republic, must yield to the inevitable realization that each man by himself is weak. ...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate