According to Machiavelli, which of the following is not a characteristic of a successful prince?

Machiavelli, in his seminal work "The Prince," outlines several characteristics that he believes are essential for a ruler to maintain power and govern effectively. While strength is certainly an attribute that can be beneficial to a prince, it is not emphasized as a defining trait in his analysis. Instead, Machiavelli places a greater focus on qualities such as wisdom, cunning, and decisiveness.

Wisdom allows a prince to make informed decisions and strategize effectively, while cunning is crucial for navigating the complexities of political alliances and rivalries, often requiring deceit or manipulation to achieve one's goals. Decisiveness is also essential; a prince must be able to act quickly and assertively in both domestic and foreign affairs to maintain stability and authority.

In contrast, strength, while it can contribute to a ruler's image and ability to command, is not as critical in Machiavelli's perspective on effective leadership. He posits that a successful ruler might even need to appear strong without necessarily being physically so, relying instead on intelligence and strategy. Therefore, the characteristic that does not align with Machiavelli's view of a successful prince is strength.