Quote by Lord Acton
Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith.
Summary
This quote suggests that Machiavelli's teachings would not have been successful in a parliamentary government setting. The reason for this is that parliamentary government relies on public discussion, which requires participants to at least profess good faith. Machiavelli's teachings often prioritize pragmatic tactics, including deception and manipulation, which would not be conducive to a system that values transparency and the appearance of integrity. Thus, the quote implies that Machiavelli's teachings would not align with the principles and expectations of open and sincere public discourse in a parliamentary government.
Topics
Faith
By Lord Acton