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Imantaghavi Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Machiavellian
what's the exact meaning of the word: machiavellian"?
I've confronted many synonyms as:
1- cunning
2- not principled, governed by opportunity
...
which one is correct? and a good example please.
I've confronted many synonyms as:
1- cunning
2- not principled, governed by opportunity
...
which one is correct? and a good example please.
Top answer
- being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described. - characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty : He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead. - of or relating to the alleged political principles of Machiavelli; cunning, amoral, and opportunist - Suggestive of or characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning .
- - being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described.
- - characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty : He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead.
- - of or relating to the alleged political principles of Machiavelli; cunning, amoral, and opportunist - Suggestive of or characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning .
- From these various dictionary entries, you can see that both of your meanings are valid.
- w=machiavellian&ls=a ] DICTIONARIES [/url] or by googling the word.
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4 Answers
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- being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit
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Hi
I cannot fault Mr M's definitions and I'm no great fan of Machiavelli
However, Machiavelli exposes the kinds of things that politicians get up to. A number of people would say that, in doing that, he does us a favour: he lays the basis for the study of how politicians go about their business. Some would say that Machiavelli's work is partly comical or satirical
He d
I cannot fault Mr M's definitions and I'm no great fan of Machiavelli
However, Machiavelli exposes the kinds of things that politicians get up to. A number of people would say that, in doing that, he does us a favour: he lays the basis for the study of how politicians go about their business. Some would say that Machiavelli's work is partly comical or satirical
He d
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