The Prince

Puntos clave

• Quien actúa según el deber ser pierde ante quien ve la realidad
• La fortuna es un río: no se detiene, pero se pueden alzar diques
• Hazte temer si hace falta, pero nunca odiar: el odio tumba reinos
• Une la fuerza del león a la astucia del zorro y adáptate a tu tiempo
• Confía en tus propias fuerzas y en asesores que se atrevan a discrepar

Dentro de este bit

1. Cómo funciona de verdad el poder

   In 1513 a sacked Florentine official sat down in exile and wrote a short book for the Medici family, describing how rulers really win and keep states. Niccolo Machiavelli's work shocked readers because it described what leaders do rather than what they should do, and it has been called cynical ever since.

2. La fortuna es un río: alza diques

   Machiavelli splits success into two forces: fortune, the luck and circumstance you cannot control, and virtu, the skill, energy and nerve you bring. He pictures fortune as a river that floods and destroys when it rises, but that a wise ruler prepares for in calm seasons by building banks and channels.

3. Temido, pero jamás odiado

   The most famous question in the book is whether it is better to be loved or feared. Machiavelli answers that both together is ideal, but if you must choose, fear is safer, because love depends on the other person's goodwill and fear depends on you.

4. El león y el zorro

   A leader, Machiavelli says, must be both a lion and a fox: the lion to frighten off wolves, the fox to spot traps. Strength alone is stupid and cunning alone is weak.

5. Fuerzas propias, asesores honestos

   Two practical themes explain how states quietly rot. The first concerns armies.

6. Ponlo en práctica

   This week, list the three things that would hurt your project most if fortune turned, and build one small dike against each, such as savings or a backup supplier. Check whether the people around you are respecting your standards or just fearing your moods, and fix the moods.