Niccolo Machiavelle

Niccolo Machiavelle was born in Florence, Italy on May 3rd, 1469.  He was an Italian political philosopher, historian, play write, and poet. Though he achieved greatness in all of these things he was most know for his work in writing The Prince in 1513 which is said to be the "Idiots Guide" to ruling and leading.

In The Prince there are many great examples of leadership and control. The quote that I think most represents leadership today is "He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command." This is a good example of a teacher in a leadership role. To have your students listen to you and learn, you have to know how to make them listen. To be a great leader you must know how to control your people and how to please them yet still doing what you want and what you think is best for the people.

Many examples in The Prince are also negative examples of ruler an leadership. For example, the quote "It is not essential that a Prince have all good qualities, but it is most essential that he should seem to have them." This poor advice for a leader because to gain the trust and respect of your people, you must be honest and fulfill the requests of your people. For example, if you are only to show then your weapons but never use them for the good of yourself and your people, then you may as well not be doing anything. If you are lying to your people about who you are and what you know, that will show through in your battle and leadership strategies.

Pizarro achieved many great things with knowledge and battle strategies. Pizarro was a great leader but may not of known what battles lay ahead in taking over a new world. The quote "There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in it's success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order if things," represents how it is extremely hard and sometimes unsuccessful to try to take over a new land or civilization.

Gilbert, Felix. "Machiavelli, Niccolò (1469–1527)." Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online, 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.
This is a great resource to study Machiavelli...
Gilbert, Felix. "Machiavelli, Niccolò (1469–1527)." Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online http://ea.grolier.com/profile_article?assetid=0256030-00 (accessed October 29, 2010).

Leadership

I feel that having a leader in life is essential; some one to look up to, someone to teach you. Leadership, for me, is the ability to gain the trust of your peers and to be able to help them and to teach them. A leader should learn the ways of their followers and take into consideration their needs and thoughts, yet still making sure that the people are given what they truly need to be successful, not just to be pleased by petty items and acts. I have had many leaders in my life but one that has stuck with since 7th grade. My language arts/Social Studies teacher in 7th and 8th grade at Hinesburg Community School, Mrs. Spaulding was a person that I grew to trust and bond with. She was the type of teacher whose humor was a privilege of understanding. She was also the best teacher. She could hold a 2 hour long class and never bore anyone because she kept the talk interesting and related boring material to modern day topics. Through middle school she guided myself and my peers to high achievements and to higher thinking. Mrs. Spaulding was my teacher and leader and is still my leader and I hope my siblings can see the great leader, teacher, and person she is as they pass through her classes over the years.