Having read parts of the Discourses and The Prince I don't see why he is so reviled. From I have read he is analytical and concerned for good government.

Quoted: Having read parts of the Discourses and The Prince I don't see why he is so reviled. From I have read he is analytical and concerned for good government.

With regard to The Prince, his goal was to describe the processes that keep a prince in power and maintain an orderly principality.   While virtue was a fine, cruelty was also fine if it was required to maintian order.

Some people might take issue with using cruelty to maintain power while some make take less of an issue with using cruelty to maintain order.  



eta:  I agree, his main point was the maintenance of good government and he shouldn't be reviled.  I use the Prince in my Leadership class at a university.

Quoted: Having read parts of the Discourses and The Prince I don't see why he is so reviled. From I have read he is analytical and concerned for good government.

I know.  People who revile Machivelli probably haven't read him.