Question

Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince.

Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; notwithstanding, his cruelty reconciled the Romagna, unified it, and restored it to peace and loyalty. And if this be rightly considered, he will be seen to have been much more merciful than the Florentine people, who, to avoid a reputation for cruelty, permitted Pistoia to be destroyed.

How does the passage support Machiavelli's claim that a ruler must sometimes be cruel?

with an appeal to emotions
with a historical example
with anecdotal evidence
with empirical evidence

Answer 1

With a historical example — Machiavelli cites Cesare Borgia (and the Florentine/Pistoia incident) to show cruelty could restore order and be more merciful in effect.