The Prince, in my view, is less about ruthlessness, and more about realism. He who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall, according to Machiavelli. A prince who blindly expects goodness from everyone is probably unfit to hold power at all. Not only is he in danger of losing power, it is also likely that he is performing a disservice to the causes he stands for as he is incapable of defending them against someone who knows the difference between what is and what ought to be.
Yet I do not see The Prince as incompatible with the wish to listen to the people's views, attract popular support, and encourage participation in decision-making. For while Machiavelli said that it is better to be feared than to be loved, he thought that being both loved and feared was even better. A prince must work hard at strengthening the legitimacy of his rule, even as he must not hesitate to use force in order to protect the stability of the state.
Finally, I completely agree with the idea that fortune favors the brave. Indeed, it is better to be impetuous than to be cautious when there is an opportunity. Only the audacious become truly great. This is how Machiavelli tells us to seize the day.
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