Annotation3
Posted by bilothman on March 13, 2009
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Chapter XXV: The Influence of Luck on Human Affairs and the Ways to Counter It
Page 69
“I conclude then, that so long as Fortune varies and men stand still, they will prosper while they suit the times, and fail when they do not. But I do feel this: that it is better to be rash than timid, for Fortune is a woman, and the man who wants to hold her down must beat and bully her. We see that she yields more often to men of this stripe than to those who come coldly towards her. Like a woman, too, she is always a friend of the young, because they are less timid, more brutal, and take charge of her more recklessly.”
Fortune is the only barrier in The Prince that Machiavelli’s logic cannot overcome. His analysis of Fortune is unique because he uses a metaphor to explain himself instead of reason. It is also the last idea Machiavelli explains before his exhortation to Lorenzo de Medici. It is a turning point, when Machiavelli’s reasonable tone transforms into a spirited, patriotic one that demands action to unite the city-states of the Italian peninsula against foreign invasion. Machiavelli is getting Lorenzo de Medici excited, so he will more readily accept Machiavelli’s exhortation- his purpose for writing The Prince.
Just in this four sentence passage the reader can observe Machiavelli’s transformation. He starts with cold, discerning logic, then changes in the second sentence to a metaphor. He sees Fortune as a constant and the acts of men as a variable. They must make up for any discrepancies caused by the change in fortune. Here is another example of Machiavelli’s realistic approach to politics. No matter how hard men try, anomalies will always occur, forcing them to change their plans accordingly. When change is viewed as the only constant, men must be bold enough to adapt to the times, always adapting. Hesitation therefore, will never result in success; and boldness, even if it is not the best course of action, will at least give one a chance to succeed.
Machiavelli explains logic in an illogical way. His comparison to fortune as a woman, is not unique for the time period. Other writers, such as John Milton also place women as the opposite of logic. The only thing men can do to minimize damage is to boldly control her. Not to insinuate women need to be controlled, or that Machiavelli’s view is his or prevalent of the times- like all of his other writings in The Prince, they are meant to get his point across as accurately and precisely as possible in the shortest amount of time. As the case is with Fortune, a comparison to a woman seems to fit. One may call him a misogynist, and judging on the text there is a strong basis to do so, but as with all of Machiavelli’s writings, the viewpoint he expresses serves to get his point across- it is not necessarily his thought.
The concept of Virtù is also strongly evident in this passage, indicating even when Machiavelli is not using a logical argument to validate his thoughts, his writing remains focused and unified. Although Robert Adams, the translator of the Norton Critical Edition of The Prince describes virtù as many things, after reading many scholarly articles concerning Machiavelli and his ideas, I think it is best to define virtù as politics used to further the cause of a poltical system, used as fortune and necessity require. The second part of the definition is the most important part. It implies choosing one side and not faltering from it. This relates to Machiavelli’s comparison of politics to economics- the idea of power as a scarce resource, and in the public domain morality and niceness are non-existent; the only thing that matters is results. The well-being of the public is the larger harmony, and that well-being overshadows cruelty, or any other morally questionable means used to achieve it.
A prince must always be politically active in order to adapt to the ebbs and flows of Fortune. This single idea is the basis for Machiavelli’s ideal republican government described in The Discourses and the foundation for his ambiguous advice in The Prince. It is necessary to constantly and consistently adapt to this “fickle whore” that brings trouble upon men and stable government. Machiavelli explains this most effectively at the end of his treatise because it is the basis, the foundation of government. Without active citizens a republic or principality will fall victim to decadence and laziness and be taken over by a neighboring one, whose sense of virtù is stronger. Fortune is the narrow balance beam on which republics stand or fall. Their citizens must always be active for their government to be balanced; any decadence of laziness will inevitably result in failure. In a principality the prince is responsible for the well-being of the public and therefore must use any means necessary to remain virtùous.
As in taking control of a woman, there are risks involved. Here, Machiavelli’s metaphor greatly under represents the scope of power- a mistake in asking a girl on a date results only in rejection, a mistake in government affects the lives of not just the prince, but of all of his citizens. And we see this pattern, especially in Machiavelli’s allusions to past leaders who were killed or exiled because of their inability to adapt to changing times.
(List Examples)
The risks for a prince are monumental- he bets his life and the lives of his people on his ability to be the most ruthless, cruel, callous politician; because by doing so he most effectively ensures the longevity of his people.
Machiavelli’s last metaphor sums up his entire treatise. Men need virtù to overcome the anomalies that inevitably result from the activities, both known and most often unknown, of his surroundings. The question becomes not what you are that matters, but what you can become. The most ambiguous leader becomes the best, because he can take control of Fortune through any means necessary. He is not tied to a set of rules and therefore is best qualified to control that chaotic woman called Fortune.
