{"product_id":"0012569750579","title":"National Velvet\/The Story of Seabiscuit\/Black Beauty [2 Discs]","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eNiccolò Machiavelli is never quoted as saying \"it is what it is\" but I feel certain he would have embraced the phrase wholeheartedly.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eNiccolò Machiavelli has been hammered for the last 500 years mostly because he recognized and wrote about the cold brutality of human nature, and in doing so, had that attribute transferred to him.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eHis frankness in describing strategy and tactics combined with his recommendations to princes marks him as someone willing to be ruthless in pursuing and maintaining power. A Prince, Machiavelli put forth, must do whatever is necessary; period. You will not find any altruism or idealism in Machiavelli's teachings.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eHis insights can be discussed and taught in modern society but not all can be accepted as practical options by today's societal standards.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eOr can they?\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eRead the headlines: countries are invaded and territories gobbled up, governments are overthrown and their leaders toppled, sometimes killed, new managers come in and fire everybody that was part of the old guard, corporations will find any excuse to go back on their word. \u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eThe examples are endless. Consider quote #4: \"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.\" Can you think of any recent examples in Government or Corporate America?\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eYou may not necessarily consider what Machiavelli has written as an offensive playbook for your own circumstances, but it will at least give you situational awareness from a defensive perspective. There are people who have only their own interests at heart who care absolutely zero about your interests, as disappointing and shocking as that may be to some people.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eFormatting \"The Most Important 200 Quotes™\" was a different challenge than the process I used with Sun Tzu's \"The Art Of War\" or Napoleon Hill's \"Think And Grow Rich.\" Pulling the quotes out of context left them as confusing and\/or subject to misinterpretation. My solution was to have two parts to the book. The first part is \"The Most Important 200 Quotes™\" generally attributed to Machiavelli for your review. The second part includes the entire original text with the \"Most Important Quotes\"™ from that work both highlighted and numbered within the complete text.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eThis serves three advantages. You can read the quotes by themselves, you can read the highlighted quotes within the original text, or, you can read the original supporting text to see the words in context. There is one more advantage; reading the quotes first will make reading the entire text significantly easier.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eI would never infer that there is superfluous content in one of the greatest classics ever that has stood the test of half a millennium of time. But the reality is a lot of people start \"The Prince\" and don't finish it. It can be a difficult read and in today's time-crunched world we want things served up to us in as efficient a manner as possible. I think you will surprise yourself after reading through the quotes two or three times. They transform into a more understandable message and the complete text becomes more readable. Don't give up on this important content too early in the process.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eIt is well known and documented that \"The Prince\" has influenced many of the most well known names in history. It is an important book that should be read and belongs in your library.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eEnjoy, succeed, and best wishes for success.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eRoth Stanton\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial\"\u003eThe Prince, The Prince Machiavelli, Hardcover, Kindle, The Art Of War, The Discourses, House of Medici, Renaissance, \u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WARNER HOME VIDEO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47095483203824,"sku":"0012569750579","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/0012569750579_p0.jpg?v=1763227407","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/0012569750579","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}