rhetoric quiz question

The Prince by Machiavelli is a very influintial work. Machiavelli makes many good points on how someone should rule their princedom. I agree with the belief that classical and Christian political theory clash and is there in fact unworkable in a world where you must exercise your power and struggle to keep it. This is shown when in the Prince Machiavelli talks about taking over a kingdom and killing the family of the king that rules there, thereby leaving no-one with a vendetta against you. Another example is when Machiavelli talks about holding states and that one way is to devastate the land that you have taken over so no-one that lived there before is alive and can act against you. This is not a Christian policy because no Christian would wipe out an entire area of civilians just so there wouldn't be an uprising. The next question talks about a rejection of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter. This means that Machiavelli believes that not everything is based on raw power and brute force. I agree with this because Machiavelli says that "Those who come to power by crime kill fellow citizens and betray friends. They are “treacherous, pitiless, and irreligious.” Princes who commit criminal acts can achieve power, but never glory." This shows us that the Prince must be noble and benevolent but not passive. He is saying that we shouldn't abuse our power and should go about things the right way, not killing everyone who stands in the way of you becoming the Prince.