Driven by ambition and the desires of the flesh, unconstrained by any political or social instinct, unguided by a hidden hand, humans claw for wealth and power. Once victorious, they degenerate, leaving their conquests and acquisitions open to domination by others or disintegration caused by the rot from within. Rising or falling human passion easily overwhelms reason, making men and women behave no better than animals. Federico Fellini's little masterpiece, The Orchestra Rehearsal, tells us about the human instinct for ruin, even in—or especially in—the most sensitive and talented people.

In the film a guest conductor arrives for rehearsal and finds the players in an ornery mood. “Who is he to tell us how to play?” they ask. They have played this piece a thousand times. If only they were free to play as they wish, instead of the way he demands, the performance would be far better. Is not art enhanced by creativity? Is not the authoritarian conductor suppressing their freedom of expression?

They rebel against the conductor driving him from the podium. Independence at last! But when they start rehearsing by themselves it is chaos and chaos soon degenerates into a free-for-all. Musicians are injured, instruments destroyed. In the end they beg the conductor to comeback. This time he counts out the tempo in German and there is no nonsense from the orchestra. Just as in Machiavelli's political fairy tale democracy degenerates into anarchy, which opens the door to the tyrant.

Leave the sheep to their own devices and all hell breaks loose. Give them total freedom, and they will reenact The Lord of the Flies. They are more ready for evil than for good. Therefore they must not be left to their own devices. They must be forced or, under ideal circumstances, convinced or inspired to do what is best for them. This can be done, and the results are spectacular. Properly led, they can achieve glory.

There's the rub: In order to achieve the noblest accomplishments the leader may have to “enter into evil.” This is the chilling insight that has made Machiavelli so feared, admired, and challenging. It is why we are drawn to him still half a millennium later like moths to the killer flame. Humans are prey for their fellow man yet with great leaders we can prevail. But those who undertake to lead us to glory are in for a hell of a fight. No holds barred. If you are not prepared to fight without quarter don't play this game. “Prophets who came with arms were successful, while those who were not armed were ruined.” The road to hell is littered with the corpses of the well meaning.