Niccolo Machiavelli

Ninian Hill Thomson

Originally published in 1532, nearly five years after the author's death, "The Prince" is a pioneering work of modern political philosophy for which Niccolo Machiavelli is best remembered. Intended to be a treatise on ruling for princes, "The Prince" is one of the world's first and most impactful works of political science. In the book Machiavelli offers many bits of practical advice on how to rule and even though the book was written in the early 16th century the ideas are still very relevant today. Where "The Prince" differs from other political literature is in its separation of the lofty idealism of morality and ethics from the practical demands of governing. It is this very aspect of Machiavelli's work that has made his name synonymous with an almost immoral opportunism. It has been argued that Machiavelli himself was not quite as devious in reality as his work would suggest but that he takes up this style in his work in order to present a provocative treatise that recognizes the pragmatic demands of governance. The impact on Western civilization of Machiavelli's work cannot be overstated, and in "The Prince" we find a concise exposition of his political philosophy. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, follows the translation of Ninian Hill Thomson, and includes an introduction by Henry Cust.

The Prince (Translated by Ninian Hill Thomson with an Introduction by Henry Cust)

Dragan Nikolic

Niccol Machiavelli

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He was for many years an official in the Florentine Republic, with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He was a founder of modern political science, and more specifically political ethics. He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, and poetry. His personal correspondence is renowned in the Italian language. He was Secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512, when the Medici were out of power. He wrote his masterpiece, The Prince, after the Medici had recovered power and he no longer held a position of responsibility in Florence."Machiavellianism" is a widely used negative term to characterize unscrupulous politicians of the sort Machiavelli described in The Prince. The book itself gained enormous notoriety and wide readership because the author seemed to be endorsing behavior often deemed as evil and immoral.

Ninian Hill Thomson

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