# XV: Concerning Things for Which Men, and Especially Princes, Are Praised or Blamed explained — The Prince

> Chapter companion for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

## What happens

Machiavelli argues that a prince must focus on the real truth of governance rather than idealistic virtues, because acting virtuously in a corrupt world leads to ruin. He lists qualities for which men are praised or blamed, and asserts that a prudent prince must know how to do wrong when necessary, embracing vices that preserve his state over virtues that would destroy it.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pragmatism Over Morality

Machiavelli explicitly prioritizes what is useful over what is morally ideal, arguing that a prince must be willing to do wrong for the sake of preserving his state.

### Human Nature and Its Exploitation

The chapter is grounded in the observation that humans are inherently evil, so a prince cannot rely on virtue alone and must adapt to the corrupt reality.

### The Importance of Public Perception

Machiavelli discusses how princes are judged by qualities like liberality, cruelty, and faith, and advises managing reputation to avoid losing power.

## Character check-ins

### The Prince

The central subject of the chapter, whose conduct toward subjects and friends is analyzed.

### Niccolò Machiavelli

The author who departs from traditional moral teachings to offer practical advice based on real human behavior.

## Key lines

> it appears to me more appropriate to follow up the real truth of the matter than the imagination of it; for many have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been known or seen, because how one lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation

Machiavelli says it is better to describe how rulers actually behave rather than how they should behave in an ideal world, because ignoring reality in favor of moral fantasy leads to disaster.

_This is the core pragmatic break from classical political philosophy._

> it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity

A prince must be willing to act immorally when circumstances require it to maintain his power.

_This introduces the concept of 'necessary evil' in statecraft._

> something which looks like virtue, if followed, would be his ruin; whilst something else, which looks like vice, yet followed brings him security and prosperity

Apparent virtues can be destructive, while apparent vices can be beneficial for a ruler's stability and success.

_This inversion of conventional morality is a hallmark of Machiavelli's advice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xv-concerning-things-for-which-men-and-especially-princes-are-praised-or-blamed
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters