SOURCE: Translator's Preface to Maxims and Reflections of a Renaissance Statesman (Ricordi), by Francesco Guicciardini, translated by Mario Domandi, Harper Torchbooks, 1965, pp. 33-38.

In the following essay, Domandi asserts that Guicciardini's Maxims, like the writings of his colleague Machiavelli, should be commended for separating politics from ethics.

If Guicciardini's Ricordi has been as well known as Machiavelli's Prince, they would surely have competed for the reputation of being the most immoral piece of political prose of the early Cinquecento. The great critic Francesco DeSanctis, whose liberal-nationalism generally predisposed him to see the excellence of neglected or little known Italians, called Guicciardini's book of political maxims "the corruption of Italy, codified and exalted to a rule of life."¹ It is easy enough to understand why these cynical, wordly-wise ricordi, with their constant and clear appeal to self-interest, might have given offense. But to take Guicciardini to task for divorcing...