Machiavelli On Fortune

7 Pages 1764 Words

t afforded opportunities that would allow them to reach a higher position of authority are sometimes driven solely by their desire to succeed. Often times, those who strive for success and reach it by themselves are often more appreciative of their success than those who have been given the opportunities that allowed them to be successful. Machiavelli uses Moses and Romulus to exemplify this proposal. For example, had Romulus found a home in Alba, Machiavelli believes he would have never founded the city of Rome.
Machiavelli argues in Chapter VII that if one becomes prince by good fortune alone he has little trouble doing so. However, he foresees that a prince who gains his station in this way will suffer a great deal of trouble after he has attained the position. Machiavelli attributes this trouble to a dependency on those who have helped the prince to gain his greatness. He also attributes it to the lack of knowledge and power that the prince may possess which would be required to maintain his position as prince. Through his descri...