The most superficial fact regarding the Discourses, the fact that the number of its chapters equals the number of books of Livy's History, compelled us to start a chain of tentative reasoning which brings us suddenly face to face with the only New Testament quotation that ever appears in Machiavelli's two books and with an enormous blasphemy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A numerical coincidence in Machiavelli's Discourses leads to a serious chain of reasoning ending in a startling biblical quote and blasphemy.
- In plain terms
- A pattern in Machiavelli's chapters led us to a shocking quote and blasphemy.
- What can you take from it?
- Textual patterns can reveal profound or shocking meanings.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does textual structure reveal?
- How do patterns change interpretation?
Another view
It attributes significance to a coincidence that may not have intent.
More from Leo Strauss
The silence of a wise man is always meaningful.
Permalink to quote #5 [W]e believe that failing to call a spade a spade is not scientific.
Permalink to quote #7 The problem inherent in the surface of things, and only in the surface of things, is the heart of things.
Permalink to quote #4
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