Blog 3 (Kaitlyn)

Chapter 25 of The Prince emphasizes an idea that really makes a person think about how one should rule a country. Should a ruler rely on fortune to control everything, or should he also listen to his own free will? Machiavelli writes, “I think it may be true that fortune determines one half of our actions, but that, even so, she leaves us to control the other half” (74). Machiavelli wants rulers to use that half of free will that they posses. In this chapter of The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli states that a fortune favors a ruler that is bold and that it is always better to take initiative in political life and political struggle. If a ruler is bold and uses his free will wisely, he be become a better ruler. A ruler should not just rely on chance and the idea that everything will work out eventually. As Machiavelli states, “A ruler who depends entirely on his good fortune will be destroyed when his luck changes” (75). If a ruler does not think for himself, or about the context of the situation, and irrationally makes decisions, then he obviously will not become a greater ruler than he is. I personally think the idea of acting bold is a good idea to an extent. Sometimes it is a good idea to do things on a whim, but when it comes to making great decisions (like about a country), then I feel like he should not act boldly, but rationally.

Also in this chapter Machiavelli compares fortune to be a lady. He then says, “If you want to master her, to beat and strike her. And one sees she more often submits to those who act boldly than those who proceed in a calculating fashion” (77). I just found this quote to be interesting. This quote obviously shows the difference in time periods, for one would never say something like this now. But this quote also relays the idea that a ruler must act boldly in order to become a better ruler.

And to end with a joke:

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

So that its subjects will view it with admiration, as a chicken which has the daring and courage to boldly cross the road, but also with fear, for whom among them has the strength to contend with such a paragon of avian virtue?  In such a manner is the princely chicken's dominion maintained.
(http://philosophy.eserver.org/chicken.txt)