The Prince's Guide to Understanding Nature

David Perry: Machiavelli seems to divide the things that a prince should know. He says understanding humans is somehow different from or a part of nature, but understood differently in its own right. And he kind of breaks them into two categories, those who were too cool and those who are too merciful. This helps us understand how he is a philosopher, if we just follow the steps,right? Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher who by chance happened to have power,. Machiaveelli does not have power. Lorenzo de Medici, to whom the prince is dedicated, he has the power.