Niccolo's Smile
Encyclopedia
Niccolo's Smile: A Biography of Machiavelli is a translation of Machiavelli's diaries and memoirs by Maurizio Viroli, a scholar from the University of Bologna
, Italy
, and Princeton University
.
Published in 1998 using Machiavelli's original source materials, the author recreates his biography.
"Machiavellian" is a pejorative term suggesting serpentine scheming and use of immoral, ruthless means to achieve desired ends. Those ends usually include the maintenance of power at all costs. Inevitably, it is often assumed that Machiavelli must have reflected and practiced these methods in his personal and public life. He was cursed to live in interesting but chaotic and violent times. Machiavelli's longing for a powerful ruler was not merely based on a cynical wish to see power exercised; rather, Machiavelli hoped for a strong and, if necessary, devious ruler who could rule effectively but also wisely and justly. In his personal life, he is revealed here as a caring, sensitive man who, contrary to expectations, was frequently ruled by his heart rather than his head.
Describing "Machiavelli's Dream", the author recounts a legend in which on his death bed, the great philosopher gathered his friends and told of a dream. In the dream, a band of ragged, poorly dressed and miserable men were the self-described "saintly and blessed; we are on our way to Heaven". He then saw a crowd of solemnly attired, noble men of grave appearance. He recognized among them Plato
, Plutarch
, and Tacitus
. They told him "We are the damned of Hell". Machiavelli tells his friends he would be far happier in Hell where he can could discuss politics with the great men of the ancient world, whereas in Heaven he would languish in boredom among the saintly and blessed.
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Published in 1998 using Machiavelli's original source materials, the author recreates his biography.
"Machiavellian" is a pejorative term suggesting serpentine scheming and use of immoral, ruthless means to achieve desired ends. Those ends usually include the maintenance of power at all costs. Inevitably, it is often assumed that Machiavelli must have reflected and practiced these methods in his personal and public life. He was cursed to live in interesting but chaotic and violent times. Machiavelli's longing for a powerful ruler was not merely based on a cynical wish to see power exercised; rather, Machiavelli hoped for a strong and, if necessary, devious ruler who could rule effectively but also wisely and justly. In his personal life, he is revealed here as a caring, sensitive man who, contrary to expectations, was frequently ruled by his heart rather than his head.
Describing "Machiavelli's Dream", the author recounts a legend in which on his death bed, the great philosopher gathered his friends and told of a dream. In the dream, a band of ragged, poorly dressed and miserable men were the self-described "saintly and blessed; we are on our way to Heaven". He then saw a crowd of solemnly attired, noble men of grave appearance. He recognized among them Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
, Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
, and Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
. They told him "We are the damned of Hell". Machiavelli tells his friends he would be far happier in Hell where he can could discuss politics with the great men of the ancient world, whereas in Heaven he would languish in boredom among the saintly and blessed.