Executive Summary In which Machiavelli's most famous work is summarized with an eye toward TRP theory.

Body TRP theory holds that a Dark Triad personality is the one most attractive to women, and that one-third of the Triad is Machiavellianism. If you're going to understand the term, understand the man's work.

The term comes from his most famous work (and one of my favorite books), The Prince. Written for Lorenzo de Medici, grandson of the influential Lorenzo the Magnificent (also de Medici, but whatever), the book departs from Machiavelli's earlier works on republican government and instead describes the rule of principalities - what we might think of today as kingdoms. Given Machiavelli's history with Florence and the Medicis, some scholars think the work is a satire, but I disagree. He wrote it at a time in his life when things were darkest, and that's saying something, and when the Florentine republic had been destroyed. Given that the book ends with a call to action for a strong ruler to free Italy of foreign rule, I think it's the product of a real state of mind, maybe even a complete change of heart.

Enough history. Now for the book. My aim is to dispel some common myths and tie things to TRP concepts. I'm leaving moral judgments mostly out of it, but I'll note that I'm not Dark Triad and likely never will be, I just find the concept fascinating. I'd be interested to see how you all apply these concepts to Game, business, and life.

On Cruelty: Machiavelli posits that cruelty can be used well or poorly. Well-used cruelty is that which can be done at a single stroke, early on, and then left in your back pocket as a threat. After that single, cruel stroke, one can be beneficent - the intimidation remains, but the people will see you and think, "He's a bastard, but he's OUR bastard." Poorly-used cruelty is that which is insufficiently strong, and so must be dealt out continuously. The people end up just thinking of you as a bastard. Conversely, benefits should be spread out over time and always kept fresh in mind because people are not inclined to remember kindness later.

My take on this one is that one should never let a business or romantic relationship degrade into a long series of petty fights. Deal with your shit the moment it comes up. Have the awkward, uncomfortable argument now, set terms, get respect, and if it isn't up to code, walk away clean. Properly-applied dread game is not a long series of petty cruelties, it is a clear understanding that you will leave without hesitation if certain lines are crossed, now or in thirty years. And obviously don't interpret "cruelty" as "slap her around." I shouldn't have to make that disclaimer in civilized company, but there it is.

On Mercenaries and the army: Machiavelli lived in a time where Italy's armies largely consisted of mercenaries who rarely killed one another and frequently killed their own employers. Machiavelli implored the wise Prince to remember that a mercenary's interests are never your own. Your real strength comes from the powers reliably at your disposal, and that means armies of your own citizens and dependents. A wise prince will always train with his own troops and get to know the terrain around his homeland, even in peacetime, so his men will know him and so he will know which way the wind is blowing.

Interesting, but has to be stretched a bit to apply here. Just remember this with plates and business partners. Even if you find a good woman or a great business partner, remember that just because their interests coincide perfectly with yours, that doesn't mean their interests and yours are the same. Be mindful that their interests remain with yours in changing circumstances - don't mistake a mercenary for a citizen.

On generosity: Generosity is expensive, and the love of a few beneficiaries is fleeting while the hatred of the taxed is long-lasting. A miser incurs disdain but not hatred. Becoming a prince may require great generosity, which if possible ought to be done at others' expense (for example, conquering an enemy and distributing loot to your soldiers); once you've become a prince, save your money and don't tax your subjects or squander your personal wealth.

For business, this needs no explanation. For game, this principle requires that one consider emotion and money separately. Money is not infinite, and getting into the habit of spending to impress a woman is self-defeating. If she stays for your money, she won't stay when it's all spent. But emotion, your ability to stimulate her senses and take her on an emotional roller-coaster, is limited only by your personal tolerance for the effort. You can be generous with that, to an extent, but always be careful not to overperform beyond your natural level for her. She'll get used to constant drama and stimulation while you exhaust yourself. Instead, doll out emotional reward at a natural pace, supplemented occasionally by material displays or by special nights of particular attention. Conversely, be aware of when someone is buying your love with others' labor.

Fear versus love: This is Machiavelli's most famous passage, and the most misquoted. Popular myth has reduced this to "it is better to be feared than loved." What he actually said was that it is best to be both feared and loved, but as this is often impossible, it is better to be feared than loved so long as one is not hated. Above all, you must not be hated. Love can be forgotten more easily than fear, but hatred will overcome fear. From context, I read "fear" as including a significant amount of strength and respect, rather than simple terror, but I can't read Renaissance-era Italian so that's just my best guess from the translation. Regardless, the chapter ends by noting that people love and hate of their own will, but fear at the will of the prince.

Alpha versus beta at its core right here, if my interpretation is correct. A beta is loved platonically because he is lovable and sweet, so long as the girl in question feels like it. An alpha is loved and respected for his qualities, even if the girl in question knows he's bad for her. But her hatred will overcome both, as many divorced men and spurned betas can testify. Likewise, the best attorney I know is not someone I will ever like very much, but I don't hate him. I don't know anyone who hates him. The man has a well-deserved reputation for competence and fierce litigation, and you can bet that makes him a real force in settlement negotiations.

On integrity: Keep your word when it benefits you, break it when it doesn't and when your reputation won't suffer. Don't acquire a dishonest reputation, but remember that people are prone to rationalizing away lies and cruelties that are in their self-interest. Also remember that there will always be circumstances where you will be tempted to lie for convenience, but doing so hurts you in the long term. Lie if you must, but maintain the appearance of virtue, and avoid any lies that will make you hated.

I'm professionally bound both to honesty and to keep secrets. I can tell you that a well-kept secret is often the most effective lie, but it will ruin your reputation just as fast as a real lie unless you're very up-front that certain information is confidential. No one likes to be suckered by a half-truth, so don't pull some stunt that will make you hated, and don't try to rationalize it to yourself as "not really a lie" when you know others will react. The easiest way to maintain a reputation for integrity is not just to avoid lies, but to state up front when you are not at liberty to say something. With women, remember that she will rationalize away the Alpha's lies even as she despises the beta orbiter for concealing his long-held crush. Conversely, be aware that many liars are successful because they have never been caught.

On the love of the masses: Call this one "reputation." The best defense against conspiracy is the lack of hatred of the masses, because conspirators against him rely on the hope that the populace will support their actions. Without hatred, a conspirator is a criminal who will be punished for his actions. Likewise, if only backstabbers and sociopaths will join a conspiracy, then the conspirator must constantly deal with being surrounded by backstabbers and sociopaths. This is one place where love of the masses is actually very useful, but fear is still preferable if one cannot have both, because then the potential conspirators must weigh their fear of discovery against the potential punishment for success.

My take? The best move you can make for an LTR or for social-circle game is to have a good reputation with the girl's friends. It's great if the BFF likes you, but best if the BFF respects you and thinks you're an alpha. The supportive BFF who wants to bang you is, in my experience, the single most underappreciated LTR Game tool in the field. Nothing makes a gf happier than hearing all her friends telling her how hot and cool her man is (might cause some fake drama, but at the end of the day it's the good kind). At the same time, remember that Facebook likes aren't worth shit, any more than the lack of Facebook likes; what matters is who will go the extra mile.

On disarmament: Disarmed subjects see that they are mistrusted, and they resent it. Disarmed subjects must be made soft and effeminate if they are to be controlled, or they will come to hate you.

Throwing this in because I love the 2nd Amendment and hate the demonizing of so-called "toxic masculinity". Anyone who would disarm you (literally or figuratively) must also want to rob you of your self-determination and strength, and should be treated accordingly.

On alliances: You enemies will always urge you to remain neutral, while your allies will always call for help. Always take sides in conflict, because a true friend and true enemy are more feared and respected than a neutral party. Avoid siding with a power that will be stronger than you unless absolutely necessary because you do not want to end up as a controlled ally at its mercy (conversely, take weaker allies when possible). Better to have many small enemies who can be played against each other than one large enemy.

Someone could probably stretch this to a plate-spinning piece, but it's not necessary. Just a nice piece of political wisdom. Maybe those of you who still use Facebook could figure out an everyday application for it.

Advisers: Obviously, the best type of adviser is one whose goals are to help the prince, not to help himself. To retain this type of adviser, you must reward him; but do not reward too generously, or the former type may become the latter type. Do not tolerate ass-kissers under any circumstances; they are never worth it. Make it understood that you will never be offended by truth. Pay close attention to counsel, but discourage people from offering unsolicited advice.

For business, this needs no explanation - it almost seems obvious when written down like this, but then, so do a lot of mistakes that people make (half my income is from fixing mistakes that could have been avoided if people had spent one or two hundred bucks asking me before they did anything). For LTRs and plates, this is a reminder not to backslide into betahood when you find a good girl, and not to fall for the puppy-dog eyes. You can offer her the world, but only if such an offer won't make her think she deserves the world, the sky, and the moon and stars on to of that. Remember, women in an LTR will always try to change you - not just from a player into a family man, but from the player she fell in love with into the beta she has spent a lifetime spurning. Beware her unsolicited advice.

On luck and on women: I'll quote from the translation in front of me: "In my view, it is better to be impetuous than cautious, because Fortune is a woman, and if you wish to dominate her you must beat and batter her [ed: this is the part you're supposed to take out of context for a TRP smear post]. It is clear that she will let herself be won by men who are impetuous rather than by those who step cautiously. Therefore, like a woman, she is more partial to young men, because they are less cautious, wilder, and command her with greater audacity."

Now, obviously I think that beating and battering anyone is bad, and this is the second such disclaimer here. Fuck off if two disclaimers doesn't make my point clear, this is TRP and we keep it real. Machiavelli lived in a rough time. He also slept around his fair share as a young man. The passage above is part of a chapter which tells us that when circumstances and our own habits are in accord, it's easy to think we have good habits, but circumstances always change. It's better to make a reckless change with the times than to continue with an old, comfortable habit that you know is doomed to fail. So, Game reminder: overcome your approach anxiety. Overcome the temptation to avoid a big fight in favor of a string of small fights. Don't rationalize away the growing problems in your life. Don't continue with the same habits that have repeatedly failed you over time; it's less crazy to try something crazy than to do something sane but certain to fail.

Short summary: Machiavellianism means doing what works, breaking the rules where you have to but at the same time protecting your reputation. You want to emulate the Dark Triad for personal gain? Take the ideas above, use the ones that you're morally comfortable with, and you'll be closer to your goal. Even if you think these ideas are evil, learn to recognize when others are using them against you.

Broader summary: I'll reiterate every chance I get, TRP can be easily dismissed when our ideas are just anonymous neckbeard rants, but not so easily when the men in power share our ideas. Grow in power and influence, fellow travelers, and let those who are correct succeed.