Machiavelli’s attentiveness to the world would evaluate the French government’s use of exceptional powers as a necessary evil to prevent further deterioration of insecurity. Adopting liberal principles is good, however, if those principles hinder the state’s capacity to protect its resources and citizens, governments ought to be flexible and employ different methods of governing, even if they are evil. Fortùna refers to time or the winds of change, Machiavelli describes fortùna according to arbitrary gender roles prescribed to women; as being impetuous as she changes often alters her course. When fortùna varies, and leaders remain obstinate, their demise is inevitable. If the winds of change challenge the French by subjugating its territory to terrorism or insecurity, then, good leaders ought to acquire virtù, which is the set of personal qualities necessary to maintain power and triumph despite fortùna.…show more content… Machiavelli would critique Constant’s eternal values discourse, as a good leaders or governments ought to be both a lion and a fox. However, leaders always want to be regarded as glorious, and this is acceptable, as long as fortùna permits. When fortùna changes, good leaders must be flexible and exercise virtù by being fox-like, cunning and inglorious, when forced by necessity. Some wars are won gloriously, through noble principles such as the Rousseaunian laws of war, other wars, are won by barbaric and evil methods, and good leaders must have a spirit disposed to flexibility. For, a lion can fight wolves, however, fall pray to snares, whereas foxes can beat the
