Oct 25– From “Machiavelli” by Thomas Babington Macauley (1850)
Summary: Machiavelli wasn't bad, and Italy was a nice place. Until it wasn't.
Commentary: As anyone who has actually read The Prince can tell you, he's not really arguing for a megalomaniacal evil guy. He says a Prince sometimes might need to do bad things to overall assure freedom and prosperity.
"Wise men, however, have always been inclined to look with great suspicion on the angels and demons of the multitude." I like this quote, with the exception that you should look with great suspicion on the angels and demons of anyone. At some point, it seems to become self reinforcing and people go from regular good/bad to ABSOLUTE PARAGONS OF GOOD/EVIL without really doing much.
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