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The Western Canon Mailing List
Moderator: Paul John Barnette Jr.
Activation Date: March 8, 1997
Current Date:  August 10, 1997
Current Membership: 95
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>. . .the general principles of this short and dense book not only have
>remained sound. . .

Machiavelli tells us that the prince should be just in his use of 
power, but if a just use of his power is not expedient, then he 
should be expedient in his effort to be a successful prince. The 
ideal use of power occurs when ruling justly is also expedient. But 
when that is not possible, Machiavelli says, then the prince or 
anyone else with ruling power must be unscrupulous and use whatever 
means will succeed in getting or keeping power even if the means 
employed are unjust.

To be sure that we understand your position, and inclusive of your simile
of modern entities, do you contend that this position has merit?

Mortimer Adler and Max Weismann

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