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What meaning is emphasized by the use of the words merciful and mercy in the passage?
Machiavelli suggests that the cruel prince would like to be more merciful.
Machiavelli forces readers to carefully consider the meanings of the words merciful and mercy.
Machiavelli forces readers to decide whether executions and robberies are acceptable.
Machiavelli is giving both mercy and merciful a more negative connotation.
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D. Machiavelli is giving both mercy and merciful a more negative connotation.
He reframes ordinary praise of mercy as potentially dangerous for a ruler—showing that mercifulness can lead to disorder, exploitation, or weakness, and that a prince may need to accept being called cruel for the sake of political stability.
He reframes ordinary praise of mercy as potentially dangerous for a ruler—showing that mercifulness can lead to disorder, exploitation, or weakness, and that a prince may need to accept being called cruel for the sake of political stability.
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