Cyrus the Great, the most ideal monarch presented by Machiavelli in The Prince
The greatest leadership classic of the East and the West, highly praised by Peter Drucker, the father of management.
A leader's character and attitude, self-management, interpersonal relationships, organizational management, etc.
It embodies all the virtues of a true leader, transcending time and space.

As Greece descended into chaos and division after the Peloponnesian War, the practical historian Xenophon began to search for an example of a leader who could save the dark times.
The leader he finally found was Cyrus the Great, the Persian monarch (BC
600?-530).
Although Cyrus the Great was an enemy monarch, Xenophon discovered in him the virtues of a true leader who transcended time and country.

How did Cyrus the Great, who brought the Persian Empire to its zenith, grow into the great leader who built a vast empire? In "The Education of Cyrus," Xenophon retraces Cyrus' life from his extraordinary childhood to his triumphant rise to power as a ruler who effectively governed a vast empire. He reflects on the qualities and capabilities a true leader possesses.

This book unfilteredly presents the essence of Cyrus's leadership: how to fairly implement justice, how to take responsibility for oneself without relying on others, how to elicit voluntary obedience, how to promote talent, how to exercise thorough self-control without being swayed by desire, and how to run a sustainable empire.
As the monarch of a vast empire, Cyrus sought peaceful coexistence among all nations and peoples.
He severely punished the rulers of the conquered countries, but showed the appearance of a virtuous king who showed boundless mercy to the common people.
Moreover, the Jews who were liberated from Babylon thanks to Cyrus even praised the pagan king as “the shepherd of Jehovah.”
The 'King Cyrus' of the Old Testament is Cyrus the Great.

Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus," comparable to Plato's "The Republic," is an immortal leadership textbook that has been loved for the past 2,400 years.
Alexander the Great enjoyed reading Cyrus on the battlefield, and Machiavelli presented Cyrus as the most ideal model of a monarch in The Prince.
Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, also praised this book as the greatest leadership classic of the East and the West.
The Modern Intellect Classics' 『The Education of Cyrus』 is a direct translation of the original Greek text, enhancing the completeness of the translation and providing the pleasure of reading classics by including 81 footnotes and translator's notes.
It will also serve as a source of great wisdom and inspiration for readers today who are contemplating what constitutes a true leader.

But if we recall that Cyrus the Persian conquered countless peoples, nations, and peoples, and that they submitted to him, our thoughts change.
If you just do something skillfully, you can't help but think that ruling people isn't at all impossible or difficult.
We know that these people were many days' journey away from Cyrus, many months' journey away, had never seen Cyrus, and knew very well that they would never see him, yet they willingly submitted to him.

--- pp.10~11

My mother said.
“My son, the justice that your grandfather speaks of is not the same as the justice that is spoken of in Persia.
My grandfather is the ruler and master of everything in Media, but in Persia, justice is considered to be for everyone to share equally.
Your father prioritizes carrying out the commands of the state and accepting those commands, and he says that the standard is the law, not his own thoughts.
So if you come home having learned from your grandfather not monarchy, but tyranny, which is the idea that one man should have more than all the others, won't your father beat you to death?
--- pp.30~31

Cyrus said.
“But if my grandfather stays here and waits for reinforcements to join us, our troops will be too scared to move.
On the other hand, if any of us make any move to attack them, those raiders will immediately abandon their spoils and flee.” Cyrus’ words struck Astyages right in the heart.
So Astyages was amazed at how Cyrus had acquired such wisdom and keen observation.
He ordered his son to lead the cavalry and drive out those who were plundering the treasure, and then said:
“If these men, who are encamped in dense formation, move against you, I will attack them and make them turn against us.

--- p.39

Cambyses said.
“Son, it is difficult to always give benefits to those whom you want to give benefits to.
However, it is clear that we must be in solidarity with each other in these things: rejoicing together when good things happen to them, feeling pain together when bad things happen, working together to help each other when they face difficulties, worrying about whether bad things will happen to them, and trying to prevent bad things from happening in advance.
And as for conduct, the ruler must endure the heat of the sun in summer, the cold in winter, and the hardships of difficult times better than his subjects.
“In all these things, only by doing so can a ruler be loved by his subjects.”
--- p.61

You usually follow your prey wherever it leads you, without a guide, and wander up and down the mountains, but this time, don't go to places that are difficult to get to, and tell your guide to lead you by the easiest path, as long as it doesn't take too many circuitous routes.
Because for the military, the easiest way is the fastest way.
Don't make your soldiers run to you because you're used to running up the mountain, but make them hurry up and keep up with you at an appropriate pace.
It would also be a good idea to have a few of your strongest and most enthusiastic soldiers march behind and encourage the stragglers.
If you have such soldiers run in single file next to the marching soldiers, every soldier will see it and be inspired to hurry.”
--- p.107

Just as when people have to fight, it is right to consider the one who defeats the most enemies as the bravest, so when people have to be persuaded, it is right to consider the one who can persuade the most people to agree with our views as the most eloquent and capable.
When persuading someone, don't think about how to win them over by showing off your speaking skills. Instead, prepare to persuade people with the mindset of making them realize what will happen if they do what you suggest.

--- p.250

You have trained far more than the enemy in preparation for war, have trained together in the same place for far longer than the enemy, and have fought together to achieve victory after victory.
But the majority of the enemy are those who fought against us and were defeated.
It is the same for both enemies and allies, there are those who are fighting for the first time.
But while the enemy knows that there are traitors among those fighting beside them, we know that our comrades beside us are willing to fight alongside us.
(Omitted) Each of you must remind the soldiers under your command of what I have just reminded you of, and also demonstrate your resolute will to the soldiers through your posture, facial expressions, and words, so that the soldiers will trust and follow you.

--- pp.288~289

Even if you are brave now, you cannot remain brave unless you make a constant effort to maintain your bravery.
Just as other skills, if neglected and not practiced, will deteriorate, and even a physically fit person will become even more physically unwell if they live a comfortable and lazy life, so too will discernment, self-control, and physical strength deteriorate again if they are not continuously trained.
Therefore, we must not let our guard down, nor be immersed in the pleasures before our eyes.
I think that while acquiring an empire is a big deal, maintaining it once you've acquired it is an even bigger deal.
For while acquiring an empire often requires nothing more than boldness and courage, maintaining it once acquired requires discernment, self-control, and painstaking effort.

--- p.334

As Cyrus pondered how he could manage these administrative matters effectively while still having time to spare, his thoughts turned to the organization of the army.
Typically, a squad leader manages 10 squad members, a platoon leader manages squad leaders, a company commander manages platoon leaders, a regimental commander manages company commanders, and a division commander manages regimental commanders. Therefore, no matter how many people there are, there is not a single person who is not managed.
Whenever the commander-in-chief wants to use his troops for any purpose, he simply issues an order to his division commanders.
Cyrus centralized the administrative organization, modeling it after the military organization.
As a result, Cyrus was able to manage and supervise the administrative affairs of the empire without exception by directing them to a small number of people.
At last he had more free time than the man who managed a household or a ship.
After he reorganized the administrative organization, he instructed his associates to utilize the organization in the same way.

--- p.342

First of all, Cyrus always treated people with sincerity and warmth.
Just as it is not easy to love someone who hates us or to treat someone with good intentions, I thought it would be impossible to hate someone who showed love and good intentions to us.
In the beginning, Cyrus was not in a position to win people's hearts by using his wealth, so he tried to win their hearts by being considerate of them, trying to make things better for them, sharing their joys when good things happened, and sharing their pain when bad things happened.
But when he was later able to win people's hearts by giving them money, Cyrus seems to have known from the beginning that nothing would win people's hearts more than sharing food and drink with them, given the same cost.
--- p.349

I feel like it's time for me to leave, as my soul is leaving every part of my body.
Anyone present here who wishes to hold my right hand or look me in the eye while I am still alive, let him come near.
But my sons, after I die and my body is covered with a cloth, I ask that no one see my body, not even you.
Invite all Persians and allies to my funeral and share in my joy.
For now I will be free from all harm, whether with or without the gods.
Treat them with all courtesy and courtesy, as if you were treating guests at a banquet held in the home of a person who has become a great man.
Finally, remember that doing good to your friends is punishing your enemies.
Farewell, my beloved sons.
Say goodbye to your mother too.
I say goodbye to my friends who are here and to my friends who are not here.

--- pp.398~399