Tao Te Ching
History of Florence
By Machiavelli
Commissioned by a Pope and Machiavelli’s longest book; this one blends a devotion to facts with invented speeches in non-historical contexts. Describing the perennial conflict between gaining wealth/fame/pleasure/power and integrity/virtue/compassion, the History of Florence describes and cautions against strong political divisions; corruption of the church and religious leaders; and a rebellion that resulted in Florence’s most democratic government. Representing Machiavelli’s attempt to regain Medici family support, it succeeded but the Sack of Rome in 1527 and subsequent fall of the Medici government left him in his more familiar, unsuccessful position.
Quotes from History of Florence
“Valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin. From disorder, order springs; from order, valor (virtue).”
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Quotes about History of Florence (1 quotes)
“The contradiction between the teaching of The Prince and that of the Discourses on Livy and the History of Florence shows that this profound political thinker has so far been studied only by superficial or corrupt readers. The Court of Rome sternly prohibited his book. I can well believe it; for it is that Court it most clearly portrays.”
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