Welcome to Litsy!

The Prince is a manuscript by Machiavelli, an Italian political philosopher (among many other things), published in the 16th century. It was written as a guide to heads of State and dedicated to Lorenzo de‘ Medici, also known as Lorenzo The Magnificent, ruler of the Republic of Florence at the time. Although outdated—for clearly, we have matured since The Renaissance, at least I hope so—it is still an incredible piece for leaders abroad.

Que se explique por sí solo.

Un classico della letteratura italiana, una visione realistica del potere dei regnanti. Recensione completa: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfi-aMfMjAJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I'm not sure this is meant to be funny but this dude was really blunt. It's meant to be for politics but is easily applied to business as well. And it's really short and totally readable. I should have read it a long time ago.

#BookSpinBingo free space
@TheAromaofBooks

Great read if you're into the politics of the old times. Nicolo Machiavelli perfectly explained the decision making policy of various princes with a focus on the political situations of that time.
Additionally, it has a very sophisticated vocabulary which made me hooked to it.
A 120 page marvel.

First book for 2020! Started the year right with this book; essential reading that is still so relevant today.

That is quite the helmet.

4 replacements for the #GreatestBooks Display! 😁

Have you read any of these?!

#LitsyLovesLibraries #MrBooksDisplays

So it seems there has been a bit of a mix up.
See my full review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2639163491?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

Well, I guess I'm off to conquer my own nation now!

It was the final day for the “Heavenly Bodies” Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I saw the part of the Exhibit that was at the Cloisters. This gown features an embroidered portrait of the influential Italian philosopher, Machiavelli, from the title page of his treatise, The Prince. It was condemned for its promotion of anti-Christian values, and placed on the Catholic Church‘s Index of Prohibited Books.

Words make the world go round.

Need to be brave... choose book courage instead of liquid courage. I took a detour by the donations piles and found these. Good copies of classics. I was feeling better and ready to tackle the huge spreadsheets for compiling the stats of 2018. #startinganewjanuary. No hockey tonight... I'll spend it with Hamilton's battalion.

I never get bored reading it!!

Well thought out way to run the world

Today's thrift shop finds. Not bad for $3!

Brilliant, clear and concise, ruthless, pragmatic. I so needed something honest and common sense. And if you think this medieval guide to gaining and holding onto power has gone out of style since Cesare Borgia, think again. It perfectly describes our system of politics, minus (mostly) the blodshed. Just look at the last election.

Shout-out to the crystal-clear and lively narration by Ian Richardson on my audiobook.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"A prince who is not wise himself will never take good advice."

A good leader surrounds himself/herself by capable people; a bad one by flatterers.

Our Congress should read this book. You never find perfect solutions.

"Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are."

This quote sums up politics: to succeed, you must look virtuous, but practicing virtue will never lead to success. Honesty and integrity are only for show.

I find this book brilliant. Refreshing in its pragmatism.

Finished reading The Prince today. Had gradually fallen apart during our time together. I'm glad I finally read it but it didn't rock my world.

Picked up The Prince again after diverting my attention to other material for a while. If Trump could hold attention long enough to read a book he'd probably learn a few things (although there's also a lot of talk of a prince being best to rule via fear and arms).

Okay, this book is really just an empirical/pragmatic way of looking at most historical leaders. It is clear he understands a man should have values, but knows as a leader it is a hindrance. He admits religion is manmade, but feels it should be enforced among the people. He doesn't necessarily believe these things SHOULD be done, but basically implies that it is going to be done because of human nature and if it is, it may as well be done well...

Decided to go ahead and read this book since it is so short, and I know a lot of what he says IS logical if deplorable, but this little passage genuinely makes me cringe that so many men have and continue to think like this, and sadly that some women make the remark true. Women that mistake abuse for dominance, asshole for 'Alpha'... I hope one day we evolve completely beyond this. #LetterP #LitsyAtoZchallenge #cringeworthy

More #Bookmail for my #LitsyAtoZchallenge list. While The Prince is not long at all, it has been on my TBR for years. Found it in hardback for $0.01. And Jinx and XO were both $1! For used books, they are in great condition 😊

Just a wee sampling...

#readjanuary #royals #obsession #history #nonfiction #fiction #tudors #tudorengland #likeliterally #therearemore #iwasntwaitingforthisday #oranything #casualwhistle 😬🤴🏽👑🏰⚜️

And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.