Summary
Machiavelli’s dedication of The Prince—with
the heading “Niccolò Machiavelli to the Magnificent Lorenzo de’
Medici”—is a letter to Lorenzo de’ Medici, who was the nephew of Giovanni
de’ Medici (Leo X) and became duke of Urbino in 1516.
Machiavelli offers his book with customary humility, commenting
that it is stylistically simple and unworthy of his audience. Machiavelli
describes his book as a summary of his “understanding of the deeds
of great men,” intended to help Lorenzo de’ Medici achieve eminence
as a prince.
Analysis
Machiavelli begins by offering a short defense of why
he, an ordinary citizen, should know more than rulers about the
art of ruling. He uses a metaphor to justify himself: a person standing
on a mountain is best positioned to survey the landscape below,
and a person standing below is best positioned to survey the mountain.
Similarly, writes Machiavelli, “to comprehend fully the nature of
people, one must be a prince, and to comprehend fully the
nature of princes one must be an ordinary citizen.” Implicit in
this claim is the idea that the removed perspective of an observer
is a more reliable guide than practical experience, and a better
means of improving the art of ruling.
The dedication gives the reader an idea of Machiavelli’s
intended audience. Though the book has a scholarly tone, it is not
for fellow scholars. The Prince is meant to advise,
instruct, and influence the minds of rulers. It was, originally,
a kind of practical “how-to” guide for aspiring princes. Only later
did The Prince become regarded as an important
treatise on political philosophy.
