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Analysis of Machiavelli's The Prince

It is with the concept of mixed monarchies is where Machiavelli makes his first crucial point. Machiavelli writes, "Difficulty common to all new monarchies, for men like to change their masters, hoping to improve their lot; this makes them take arms against their rulers only to be disillusioned when they later see by experience that they have worsened their state" ( Machiavelli 2).
             What he does is acknowledges that it is human behavior to never be satisfied. Men are willing take arms against their current leader the moment he fails to meet expectations only to regret doing so. It goes to show that there is truth in the saying that the grass isn't greener on the other side. This never satisfied attitude takes place in American politics every day. The current President of United States is constantly criticized by the same mass of people how put him in office. What these people fail to remember is that he inherited a country in an abysmal state left by the previous administration. His critics yell out his mistakes, whisper his accomplishments and are already looking forward to the next man to lead the nation. A leader can never fully satisfy his people. However, America's government is a democracy and does not have to worry about the people raising arms against their leader inducing a revolution of some sort.
             Conventional wisdom has it that when putting together a writing a book on political thought one must use theory or abstract concepts. However, that is not the case when it comes to The Prince. Instead of relying on abstract thoughts he chooses to take a practical approach and use history to construct these guidelines he lays out for Lorenzo Medici on to best maintain power of his state. He uses empirical information from conquests that have taken place in the past to explain his rules and procedures for the Medici family. He is constantly referring to previous empires and rulers outlining the mistakes they have made or successes they had in order to prove the points that he makes.


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