West European Studies

The Prince (Il Principe) is a political treatise written during the Renaissance by Niccolo Machiavelli for his patron, Lorenzo (the Magnificent) de Medici as a practical guide on how a ruler should govern his area of jurisdiction. 

In one instance, with regard to the defense of the (city) state, Machiavelli counsels against the employment of mercenaries and even auxiliaries by the Prince. Machiavelli deems that they are unreliable because such men cannot be trusted to be loyal (50). Their only loyalty would be to those who would pay them well. There is also a likelihood that they will flee from the battle instead of fighting to the end for the Prince. Either way, win or lose, the Prince would be in trouble (Machiavelli 50-51).

With regard to what kind of attitude a ruler must exhibit to the citizens, Machiavelli states that to be feared is preferable over to be loved by the citizens. Although ideally, both would be fine, it is unrealistically possible for these two attitudes to be together. If a ruler is to be loved, his people would expect a lot from him, and it may come to a point where he might not be able to accommodate their wishes, unlike fear where absolute respect and obedience can be obtained, especially by his army. But in doing so, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred (Machiavelli, 66-67).

From these sections, The Prince would be considered a manual for any ruler that wants to stay in power, and unfortunately, these are the ones who were seduced and addicted to it.