In history, the main reason why a nation prospers is because of its leader. The best written piece I have come across on this topic is Niccolo Machiavelli's book, "The Prince". A leader should be intelligent, strong, caring and devoted to his subjects. Although people have different opinions in the qualities of a good ruler, all believe that a leader should help his nation grow and thrive.
In his book, "The Prince", Niccolo Machiavelli states his opinions on what makes a good ruler. He believed that a leader should not think about his luxuries as much as gaining knowledge about commanding and leading. This takes a lot of training and hard work, but by doing this he will maintain the reign of his family rule.
A great example of a ruler who was too caught up in luxuries and weakened his empire because of selfishness is Louis XIV. He tried to gain as much power as possible at the expense of his subjects.
Famous posthumous portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli...
English: Tomb of Niccolò Machiavelli in the Basil...
Santi di Tito’s famous portrait of Niccolò Mach...He taxed the poor to support his wars. He lived in a palace so large that one would need days to explore all its beauties. However, when he died, his subjects celebrated like never before as nothing can be more humiliating than that.
One of the most important qualities Machiavelli stated a ruler should have is knowledge of warfare. Without the ability to defend his nation, a ruler will not be for long. It also makes the people feel uneasy and unsafe, which leads to conspiracies against him and challenges against his power. Machiavelli believed that a ruler should always exercise his practice in warfare, especially during peacetime.
Machiavelli advised that a ruler should study the history of other great leaders to learn how they won and lost battles, and try to avoid their mistakes. Machiavelli...