10-Point Prescription on Effective Political Leadership

November 24, 2007

Political Science is one of my minor subjects this semester. Though the subject and the teacher is quite boring I will really have to deal with the two. Hehehhehehe…anyways, just want to share to you this 10-Point Prescription on Effective Political Leadership by Niccolo Machiavelli. His name seems to be familiar with me. Is he the author of the book the Little Prince? because in the 10 point prescription he was mentioning about prince.  

         1. The good prince(i.e. leader) must avoid being despicable and hated.

         2. The best fortress for a state and its prince is the love of the people.

         3. It is safer to be feared than to be loved, but it is best to be feared as well as to be loved.

         4. The “good” prince should abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father, than the loss of their patrimony.

         5. It is better to trust in your power than in the goodwill of others.

         6. Legislate good laws and back them with good arms.

         7. Laws are the ways of men and force is the way of the beasts, but you can not rely on law only.

         8. Imitate the fox and the lion. The fox is shrewd and cunning, the lion is strong and brave. If you want to be one or the other, it is better to be the fox.

         9. Do not put your trust on your mercenaries, for they can easily be bought by your adversaries.

         10. Be prudent. Prudence is the ability of knowing the nature of difficulties and making that which is least harmful as good.