The Prince and Tupac!
A Playbook for Power and Position!
Introduction
The Prince was written over five hundred years ago by Niccolo Machiavelli after his political career was brought to an abrupt end and he was imprisoned. He authored the book hoping it would help restore him to power. It is a book that can still be considered relevant today as it deals with the rise and fall of power, the conduct of leaders, and the lure of maintaining power at all costs.
Machiavelli opens The Prince with what appears to plea to be forgiven and to be welcomed back into the good graces of his former employer. He writes, “In my desire, however, to offer to Your Highness some humble testimony of my devotion…”(1) As endearing as this statement sounds, Machiavelli spends most of the book unveiling a plan to take power and keep it by any means necessary. Which results in a sometimes-disturbing description of how to be a powerful leader. It is a short book with a litany of statements/themes that are meant to guide a leader to a successful reign of power.
Critical Analysis
Machiavelli writes about several different lessons of leadership. He shares themes that will equip the leader with tools to garner favor, respect, and power.
The strong representation of these themes are:
1. How Should Leaders Reflect Goodness?
“A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good and to use it and not use it accordingly to the necessity of the case.”(2)
He suggests that goodness is a weakness that will inevitably lead to grief and the efforts should be put into not being good.
2. How Should Leaders Fight?
“You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.” (3)
Machiavelli cautions that fighting by law will not work and that a strong leader must employ unscrupulous (beastly tactics) to prevail.
3. Who Should Be Feared?
“The question may be discussed thus: a prince who fears his own people more than foreigners ought to build fortresses, but he who has greater fear of foreigners than of his own people ought to do without them.” (4)
He cautions the leader on how to deal with fear among his people and foreigners, with a message to rid himself of the fear or isolate from it.
Much of the book is filled with lessons such as these. Themes of leadership and instructions of how remain powerful. Machiavelli writes with expertise on the subject of power and position.
My Opinion
I must admit that my interest in this book seriously peaked in 1996 when Tupac Shakur released The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (commonly shortened to Makaveli or The 7 Day Theory). I had heard of Machiavelli in College and was loosely familiar with the theme of the book but never considered reading it until the late 90’s when a young, brilliant, and very controversial rapper took such an interest that he released an album with the pseudonym Makaveli derived from Niccolo Machiavelli. Tupac was quoted as saying, “It’s not like I idolize this one guy Machiavelli. I idolize that type of thinking where you do whatever’s gonna make you achieve your goal.”(5)I was always curious why this change happened and why he was so, what seemed to be, linearly focused on the teachings of Machiavelli in The Prince. After taking the time to read the book, I understood it better. The appeal of leading and living in a way that promotes an “end justifies the means” reality can capture the attention of those that are still searching to find their way to success, power, position. Perhaps this is what was enticing for Tupac and for so many others. I found it interesting that such a historical piece of literature can probably still be used as a playbook for those that want to take power and hold on to it. I also think that there are some dangerous themes that can be illy applied in today’s turbulent world. Read it with responsible care!
1.Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (Entreacacias, S.L.: King Solomon, 2020), 9.
2.Ibid.,64.
3.Ibid., 73.
4.Ibid., 89.
5.https://tupacuncensored.com/reason-why-tupac-changed-his-name-to-makaveli/, accessed on 9/12/2024
About the Author
Jonita Fair-Payton
3 responses to “The Prince and Tupac!”
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Hi Jonita!
Thank you for selecting the book and providing an informed review. It is extremely fascinating.
You quote, “You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.”
To what extent do you believe these values align with Biblical principles?
Love this Jonita, what a thoughtful critique of this work and I love how you saw its appeal to certain personality types and goals. I think most historical works should be read responsibly. There is a section in my project with illustrations of slavery, anti-Semitism, women’s suffrage, and the killing of Native Americans, all with Bible quotes underneath that people used to justify them. I have “Read responsibily” at the top! Enjoyed your posts, you had me at Tupac!
Well done, Jonita! I did not know Tupac did a pseudonym album under Makaveli. Interesting. I am captured by the idea of “being good” as it applies to leadership. I wonder how often leaders get caught up in the definition of Good and who defines it? What does it take to be a “good” leader? Is this when leaders go off the rails? Cutting ethical corners to be considered “good (successful)” at your leadership? Or do we lose our “good (successful)” status of leadership when we try to be “good (ethical)”? Wow, you got my mind running! Thanks for a thought-provoking post!