Asher Sisneros

Machiavelli’s The Prince has become one of the most notorious pieces of literature from the Early Renaissance. This small booklet completely refuted the moral standards set by the Renaissance humanists, and it especially refuted the moral standards pushed by Christianity. All of his anti-Christian policies can be summarized into three main points. 

This first point in The Prince is that princes are morally autonomous. This concept is the central groundwork for the entire book. Machiavelli thought that princes and politicians were autonomous from morality. Meaning, they were not required to follow any objective standard of ethics because they were sovereign. As sovereign, their chief responsibility was to serve themselves, and their chief goal was self-preservation and the advancement of personal power. Virtue was not one of Machiavelli’s considerations. To him, everything was a personal calculation, and he made decisions based on whether they helped him, disregarding if it was “moral.” In other words, the prince is mandated to do whatever helps himself, and if that includes murder, theft, and deceit, so be it. 

The second idea pushed in The Prince is the importance of fear. To put it bluntly, Machiavelli thought the pursuit of love was a complete waste of time. At the end of the day, people will backstab someone they love for personal gain. Machiavelli’s ethos is centered around the idea that all men are corrupt and there is no eternal justice. In light of that, he pointed out that love can quickly turn into hatred. Therefore, love is unreliable. On the other hand, fear is always reliable. 

The third point regards the importance of the perception of virtue and of avoiding hatred. While Machiavelli said it was important not to strive for love because love is unreliable, he also pointed out the importance of avoiding hatred. A hated prince will, without a doubt, be replaced. The people will rise up. To maintain his power, a prince must walk the thin line between being feared and being hated. Once again, Machiavelli said princes could disregard virtue. However, to avoid being hated, they also need to have the perception of virtue in the eyes of the public. 

The three ideas—moral autonomy, the pursuit of fear, and the perception of virtue—are perfect encapsulations of the doctrine adopted by the modern politician. It is sickening. There is not a member of Congress who does not present the farce that they have virtue, but none of them do. They are all liars and thieves, and some of them are even murderers. In this regard, they view themselves as morally autonomous. They have no fear of God because, in their eyes, they are God. However, they are not God.

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2

Beloved princes, be very careful. You tread on dangerous ground.