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Political Philosophy

Philosophy & The Crown

Vincent Di Norcia on monarchy and stability.

“Hereditary states are much less difficult to hold than new states. If such a ruler is ordinarily diligent and competent his government will always be secure.”
Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince (1532)

“My first moral maxim was to obey the laws and customs of my country, keeping to the religion in which I was brought up.”
René Descartes, Discourse on Method (1637)

Machiavelli is a political philosopher with a sulferous reputation. His comment above, though, reflected his bitter personal experience of warring Italian city states.

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