Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.
There is a distinct tendency among those who don't read or attempt to understand history to dismiss the thoughts, wisdom, and counsel of historical figures. That's a bad mistake; it's as though some folks think that, just because we live in this modern, high-tech age, people in general are somehow smarter than people who lived hundreds of years ago. That's not even remotely true, of course; just look at the collection of men who wrote our Constitution and the Bill of Rights to see some of the most brilliant political minds that have ever lived.
I got this message early on, thanks to my Dad prodding me to develop an interest in history. There were some pretty astute political thinkers back in historical times, but there's one in particular that seems to come to mind a lot lately. This man lived in Florence in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, at the height of the Renaissance. He was a political philosopher, author, poet, and statesman, and served as an advisor to some of Florence's most powerful trade and political figures. His name has become a synonym for ruthless manipulation in politics—a reputation that isn't entirely fair.
That man was Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, and we could learn a lot from his work today.
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) of Florence was an author, political philosopher, diplomat, and adviser to (among other powerful figures of the time) the Medici family, who were some of Europe's first major bankers. He's best known for his work Il Principe (The Prince), a short primer on political leadership. We should note that the term "Prince" as used by Machiavelli was not intended to be the usual hereditary prince we are accustomed to reading about, but rather what Machiavelli referred to as a "new prince," one who came to power on his (or her) own. Machiavelli wrote much more than this, but "The Prince" is worth examining. Some of his ideas on politics and leadership still hold valuable lessons today. So, let's examine a few of those ideas.
From "The Prince:"
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
Today, if one is paying attention to American politics, it is impossible to read this and not compare the Biden and Trump administrations, their appointments, cabinet members, and even their vice presidents. The Biden administration was stuffed chock-full of DEI hires, politically connected grifters, nitwits, dimwits, and nincompoops. "Autopen Joe" was never more than a third-rater, and was already sadly diminished by the time he assumed office; his understudy was a cackling imbecile.
In his second term, though, President Trump has assembled a team of outsiders. Approve or not of what they are doing, but they are doing it without pause or cessation. Some of the key appointments are notable: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has become the most calm, competent, and forceful representative the United States has had in the international community in many years. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a former military officer who knows what it's like to be in a foreign place with dust in his hair and mud on his boots, who is building a force of warfighters. I could go on, but you get the point.
Also from "The Prince:"
There are two ways of contending, one in accordance with the laws, the other by force; the first of which is proper to men, the second to beasts.
Look at the unrest on the streets of our major cities. Look at the willingness of the left, in particular, to rule by force. There is no pretext of liberty among the radical left any longer. Those who are rioting and looting, those who are protesting to allow the rioting and looting, the crime and unrest to continue, they are not only catering to beasts but are among the beasts themselves.
And finally, again from "The Prince:"
All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.
Acting decisively is key. Another notable historic figure, General George Patton, a military rather than political figure, is reported to have said, "A good plan violently executed today is better than a perfect plan executed next week." There, again, we cannot help but draw comparisons; the current administration may have sins to its name, but at least they are sins of commission, rather than sins of omission. President Trump and his team are acting quickly and forcefully, and if not every one of their actions bears fruit, it's enough that most of them do. To understand No-Man's Land, one must explore it with bullets, and that seems to be a major Trump administration principle.
Machiavelli's work, his cynicism, and his calculating nature have given him a reputation for ruthlessness and have made his name a synonym for political machinations. But that doesn't mean he was wrong. His work, his observations, and his advice still hold great relevance today.
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Here's the thing: Human nature hasn't changed much since the 16th century. Technology has changed significantly, but people remain much the same as they were then: manipulative politicians, easily beguiled individuals, and occasionally, the emergence of a notable leader. We are in such a place today; whether one loves President Trump or hates him, nobody can deny that he has been and is a president of consequence, and some of his acts make one wonder if maybe, just maybe, he isn't sneaking a quick look at "The Prince" in between signing executive orders and trolling the legacy media.
It is worth noting that Sir Francis Walsingham, a trusted advisor to Queen Elizabeth I of England and her "spymaster," is believed to have been familiar with Machiavelli's work. It's unclear today just who may be reading the works of that long-ago Florentine philosopher, but anyone immersed in the political world, as a pol or just as a commentator, would do well to consider Machiavelli's work.
