Realism and Guicciardini, The Pursuit of Life, The Power of the Family and How to Succeed Summary and Analysis

Throughout their long history the Italian people have learned that their best defense against corruption, violence, civil wars and revolutions is to keep their mouths shut and mind their own business. The best example of this philosophy is embodied by Italian lawyer, diplomat and historian from Florence, Francesco Guicciardini, who wrote a secret book entitled I Ricordi, which gives advice on managing through treacherous times. Guicciardini is a contemporary of another famous Florentine known for ruthless behavior and politics, Niccolo Machiavelli.

Where Machiavelli was too much a dreamer to achieve practical results, Guicciardini was more focused on goals of prospering and wielding power. Guicciardini became a lawyer and went into Papal...