Book Banned for Centuries: Machiavelli's The Prince Explained

what if I told you that one book banned for centuries has shaped the minds of the most ruthless leaders in history Stalin read it Napoleon studied it even modern politicians CEOs and world leaders secretly y its lessons to rise to power and stay there this book isn't about fairness it's not about playing by the rules it's about winning at any cost its name the prince written by K makavelli the prince is the most feared and misunderstood guide to power ever written it teaches how to manipulate control and dominate and the worst part it still works

today the prince is a blueprint for power a manual for Control a guide on how to rise to the top and stay there this book doesn't create tyrants it reveals how they think and if you understand its l you'll never be manipulated again in this series we will break down the most powerful techin controversial lessons from the prince lessons that are still used by the powerful today by the end you will see the world differently you will see through political deception corporate manipulation and social control and most importantly you will know how power truly works

for over 100 years it was banned demonized and feared the Catholic Church placed it on the index of prohibited books politicians condemned it some even wanted every copy burned in this video we're breaking down the real lessons of the prince the ones they don't want you to know by the end you'll understand why this book was banned for centuries and why those in power still use it to this day let's begin power is not given it is taken makavelli opens the prince with a brutal truth power is not something you wait for power is something

you take this is the first and most important lesson nobody is coming to hand you control makavelli divides rulers into two types those who inherit power princes Kings Aristocrats those who seize power conquerors revolutionaries self-made leaders the first group relies on luck the second group creates their own luck makavelli makes one thing clear if you want to rise you cannot wait for permission Business Leaders don't wait to be chosen they build Empires successful people don't wait for opportunities they create them strong leaders don't wait for power they take it but taking power is only the

beginning the real challenge keeping it and that leads to makaveli's second lesson one of the most brutal and controversial ideas in the book it is better to be feared than loved this is makaveli's most famous and most misunderstood idea if one has to choose it is far safer to be feared than Loved At first this sounds harsh but makavelli isn't telling rulers to be Cru for no reason his point is logical love is unreliable people's loyalty fuds when times get tough fear lasts as long as people respect your strength they won't betray you think of

the most powerful figures in history Julius Caesar Napoleon Steve Jobs Elon Musk were they loved maybe but more importantly they were feared makavelli is saying to be a tyrant he warns against hatred because hatred leads to Rebellion but fear mixed with respect that's unbreakable modern leaders use this all the time CEOs demand Excellence they aren't always nice but they earn respect politicians use fear they warn about enemies crises or dangers to maintain power influencers create dominance they control narratives making making people afraid to challenge them the key is balance too much kindness makes you weak

too much cruelty makes you hated but if people respect and fear you just enough you control the game and that leads to the next Machiavellian principle morality is a tool not a rule morality is a tool not a rule most people believe that goodness leads to success that playing by the rules being fair and staying honest will guarantee power and respect makavelli destroys this illusion he argues that morality is not a fixed law it is a tool used by the powerful to serve their interests here's what he means the strong do not follow morality they

shape it the weak believe in absolute morality the strong use it when convenient when morality helps you gain power use it when it weakens you abandon it this is why history is filled with ruthless leaders who were praised as Heroes Julius Caesar betrayed Rome's democracy yet he was called a savior Winston Churchill made brutal decisions yet he is seen as a hero Tech billionaires Crush competition yet they are called innovators the masses believe in Good and Evil the powerful believe in strategy makavelli warns that a ruler who is too honest too kind and too principled

will be crushed by those who are not does this mean you should be evil number it means you must understand power does not reward morality it rewards results use morality when it strengthens your position abandon it when it weakens you this is why leaders lie corporations manipulate and governments break their own rules and that brings us to the next lesson perhaps the most cunning and dangerous of all part four appearances are more important than reality if you cannot always be good at least appear to be good this single sentence explains modern politics business and power

better than anything else makavelli understood that people do not follow reality they follow perception a leader doesn't have to be good they just have to look good a corrupt politician can seem like a man of the people a ruthless businessman can brand himself as a Visionary a weak leader can put on the mask of strength the world does not reward truth it rewards perception makavelli gives clear advice always control your image if you must do something ruthless hide it if you must deceive people make them believe it's for their own good if you must betray

someone make it look like fate not your choice this is how modern leaders survive governments spin failures into victories corporations hide their corruption behind marketing celebrities craft perfect images while living chaotic lives the lesson is simple people believe what they see not what is true and if you control what they see you control everything the ends justify the means if there is one phrase that defines the prince it's this the ends justify the means makavelli argues that morality honesty and fairness are secondary to results what matters is winning if lying secures your position lie if

breaking promises strength strengthens your rule break them if eliminating an enemy keeps you in power do it this idea is why the prince was seen as evil for centuries but before you dismiss it ask yourself do politicians keep their promises or only when it benefits them do corporations care about ethics or only when they are forced to do successful people follow all the rules or do they bend them to win history is filled with examples of leaders who did what was necessary even if it wasn't right Napoleon crowned himself Emperor instead of following tradition Steve

Jobs manipulated markets to dominate the tech industry Alexander the Great slaughtered enemies to build an empire were these actions ethical number were they effective absolutely makavelli does not argue that all actions are Justified he warns that a ruler who is too weak to make hard choices will be destroyed his advice be willing to do what others will not because in the battle for power those who hesitate lose and that brings us to one of the most brutal but necessary lessons in the book part six crush your enemies completely a prince Must Destroy his enemies so

that they cannot seek revenge makavelli knew that half measures lead to downfall if you punish an enemy but leave them alive they will return stronger if you fire a rival but let them stay in the industry they will plot against you if you weaken a threat but do not eliminate it they will seek revenge the powerful do not give second chances this is why History's Greatest rulers eliminated threats before they G grew dangerous Julius Caesar's enemies killed him because he showed Mercy Stalin removed anyone who might challenge his rule modern CEOs buy out competitors before

they can rise this principle applies everywhere in business kill competition early in politics remove Rivals before they gain influence in life cut off toxic people before they destroy you Makia 's warning is clear if you allow an enemy to survive you are giving them time to destroy you it is harsh but it is true and in the final two lessons we will uncover how to maintain power once you have it never depend on others for power makavelli warns against the greatest weakness of all dependence a ruler must never put his fate in the hands of

others what does this mean it means true power is self-sufficient if you rely on allies to keep you in power they will betray you mercenaries to fight your battles they will abandon you luck to keep you successful it will run out makavelli despised rulers who depended on The Good Will of others he saw them as weak destined to be used and discarded the lesson build your own wealth don't rely on favors create your own influence don't depend on popularity strengthen your own skills don't wait for someone to save you history proves this again and again

Napoleon built his own Empire he did not rely on France's nobility Steve Jobs did not trust market trends he created them Elon Musk does not wait for governments he forces change makaveli's advice is simple never be at the mercy of others control your own fate and once you have secured power you must learn how to rule wisely that brings us to makaveli's final and perhaps M misunderstood lesson be both a lion and a fox makavelli says a ruler must Master two animals The Lion and the fox the lion represents strength a ruler must be feared

decisive and dominant the fox represents cunning a ruler must be deceptive adaptable and unpredictable why because strength alone is not enough a ruler who is only a lion will be outwitted and cunning alone is not enough a ruler who is only a fox will be overpowered the greatest leaders Master both Alexander the Great was a lion in battle and a fox in politics Vladimir Putin present presents himself as strong but plays deception games Warren Buffett appears friendly but dominates the financial world if you are only strong you will be tricked if you are only clever

you will be crushed but if you learn to be both you will become Unstoppable and that is why the prince was banned it does not teach kindness it does not teach fairness it teaches how the world really works and those in power they don't want you to know knowledge is power use it wisely You Now understand why the prince was feared it exposes the truth about power it reveals how leaders rise and how the weak fall but here's the real question will you use this knowledge or ignore it because makaveli's lessons are still used today

by governments by corporations s by the rich and if you don't understand these strategies you will be controlled by them so the choice is yours remain blind to power or Master it if you're ready to see the world as it truly is subscribe to real stoics for more insights that others are afraid to share [Music]