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Machiavelli Personality Test

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Dec 24, 2007 Cunjo link
Dec 24, 2007 Whistler link
64. That's a "high Mach"???
Dec 24, 2007 Cunjo link
higher than a 50, so I guess it is.
Dec 24, 2007 genka link
51, on the other hand, is a low mach.
Dec 24, 2007 Dr. Lecter link
93, but I find many of these questions too shallow to be Machiavellian.

For example: "It is wise to flatter important people." Well, that depends. If it serves your ends, then yes; however, few important people like a sycophant, and thus it may be unwise to flatter them. I imagine the lack of nuance here indicates that the author of the test has a low "Mach."
Dec 24, 2007 Pyroman_Ace link
70
Dec 24, 2007 Jubjub_Marwen link
I scored a 77. I think this quiz judges more how cynical you are. Machiavelli was indeed a cynic, but what he was defined by was his belief that all men in power should use trickery and other immoral acts to retain their positions.
Dec 24, 2007 Dr. Lecter link
Using trickery, etc., to retain your position--and thus prevent a less able man from gaining power--is not immoral. Your failure to do so, allowing power to exercised less ably, would be immoral.
Dec 24, 2007 Touriaus link
41
Dec 25, 2007 toshiro link
68, but I agree with Lecter, the test is quite simple and does not allow for differenciation. Besides, the questions are so obvious you can cheat your way easily into either crowd, which could be the objective of a person with a machiavellian mindset.

In reply to your latter statement, Lecter, quite a few people who use machiavellian methods to get to where they want to be are not better than other aspirants in regard to ability.
Dec 25, 2007 Dr. Lecter link
Your opinion, Tosh; likely not theirs. Since it's all relative, for them to behave morally, they have to seize power. For you to do so, doubting their ability, you have to prevent their doing so. Isn't a highly subjective existence with little to no point fun?!
Dec 25, 2007 Cunjo link
I had an 88, and I just knew that Lecter would score higher than me.

I'm also inclined to believe the test more a judge of cynicism than Machiavellianism, or, in the case of Lecter, just cannibalistic inclination.
Dec 26, 2007 Dr. Lecter link
*chomp chomp chomp*
Dec 26, 2007 Jubjub_Marwen link
Using trickery, etc., to retain your position--and thus prevent a less able man from gaining power--is not immoral.

Ah, but the thing is, a true Machiavellian mind would not retain power to keep less able men from taking it, he would keep it for its personal perks. I can't really imagine someone like that recognizing a more able individual and readily giving up their position to them.
Dec 26, 2007 Dr. Lecter link
Means and ends, Jubby, means and ends.
Dec 26, 2007 Hedgehogs4Me link
WEE I'm 71 and I'm only 14 years old, I must be evil.
Dec 26, 2007 LeberMac link
73. Not too bad. How did our esteemed Doctor NOT score a 100? I am, admittedly, mystified.
Dec 26, 2007 Whistler link
I'm betting he went in the middle on "It is wise to flatter important people."

And I doubt he would agree to "The best way to handle people is to tell them what they want to hear."
Dec 26, 2007 LeberMac link
Well that would explain why he's always so nice to me. ;)
Dec 27, 2007 The Vipers' Hugest Fan Club link
rofl. Ironic that the Machiavelli test is particularly susceptible to Machiavellian manipulation.