Sean, Machiavelli expended a lot of useful energy thinking about how power
is attained and maintained. His observations of real-world behavior
remain quite accurate, and so his "principles" have been applied not only
in statecraft, but in human affairs down to the interpersonal level.
There has been some discussion here about management book fads. The
Prince has endured not only because of its usefulness in the hands of the
unscrupulous (and its apparent recommendation that scruples be scrapped),
but also because of its analysis of power and ambition. Some people (I am
among them) reduce human affairs to issues of either power or love, and
Machiavelli's is an important voice in understanding power. I would not
use The Prince as a management manual, but having read the book equips me
better to deal with the "leaders" I encounter every day. I'd much rather
see them spend some time tgogether analyzing The Prince than analyzing,
say, "Twelve O'Clock High"...
-- Jack Hirschfeld A kiddly divey too, wouldn't you? jack@his.com