The Prince

by Niccolò Machiavelli Narrated by Saeid Eslam-Zadeh

Overview

Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513. He was the Italian diplomat and political theorist. This treatise is Machiavelli's advice to the current ruler of Florence on how to stay in power; the book is dedicated to Lorenzo de' Medici. The treatise makes a clear break from the Western tradition of political philosophy that preceded him. Before Machiavelli, politics was strictly bonded with ethics and politics being defined as the morality of individuals in social groups or organized communities. He tries to divorce politics from ethics and make a framework for the study of politics.
He has often been called the father of modern political philosophy or political science. Most philosophers before him had defined a good leader as humble, moral and honest. But Machiavelli denied that notion. He believed cruelty can be better than kindness. He said: “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot have both.”
This version of the book is translated by Mahmood Mahmood to Persian (Farsi) and narrated by Saeid Eslam Zadeh. The Persian version of The Prince's audiobook is published by Maktub worldwide.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Constantine elegantly captures in English the pith of Machiavelli’s brilliant Italian prose.”—Edward Muir, Clarence L. Ver Steeg Professor in the Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University

Sixteenth Century Journal

[Machiavelli] demands to be read—plainly and boldly, but also cautiously.”

Dominic Baker-Smith

[Machiavelli] can still engage our attention with remarkable immediacy, and this cannot be explained solely by the appeal of his ironic observations on human behavior. Perhaps the most important thing is the way he can compel us to reflect on our own priorities and the reasoning behind them; it is this intrusion into our own defenses that makes reading him an intriguing experience.”

author of The Story of Civilization Will Durant

There is something stimulating in Machiavelli’s forthrightness. Reading him, we are brought face to face, as nowhere else so vividly, with a question that few philosophers had dared to discuss: is statesmanship bound by morality?”

The Scotsman

A publishing bull's-eye.

The Guardian

Richardson is speaking one-to-one. He is personal, intimate, confidential. That is at it should be.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177786063
Publisher:	Maktub
Publication date:	07/11/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged
Language:	Persian

Read an Excerpt

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Seventeenth Chapter: Concerning Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than Feared

...Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with. Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed, they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life, and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you. And that prince, who, relying entirely on their promises, has neglected other precautions, is ruined; because friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or by nobility of mind, may indeed be earned, but they are not secured, and in time of need cannot be relied upon; and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails....

Twenty-First Chapter: How a Prince Should Conduct Himself So as to Gain Renown

...A prince is also respected when he is either a true friend or a downright enemy, that is to say, when, without any reservation, he declares himself in favour of one party against the other; which course will always be more advantageous than standing neutral; because if two of your powerful neighbours come to blows, they are of such a character that, if one of them conquers, you have either to fear him or not. In either case it will always be more advantageous for you to declare yourself and to make war strenously; because, in the first case, if you do not declare yourself, you will invariably fall a prey to the conqueror, to the pleasure and satisfaction of his who has been conquered, and you will have no reasons to offer, nor anything to protect or to shelter you. Because he who conquers does not want doubtful friends who will not aid him in the time of trial; and he who loses will not harbour you because you did not willingly, sword in hand, court his fate....

Translation by: W.K. Marriott

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