The Prince

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (1532)

"It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." The most notorious political treatise ever written. Machiavelli's cold-eyed manual for acquiring and maintaining political power shocked the world and made his name a synonym for cunning.

Historical Significance:
Niccolò Machiavelli, a Florentine diplomat who had served the Republic of Florence, wrote The Prince in 1513 after being exiled, imprisoned, and tortured by the returning Medici family. He dedicated the book to Lorenzo de' Medici, hoping to regain political favor — it didn't work. Published posthumously in 1532, the book was condemned by the Pope and placed on the Index of Forbidden Books.

What made The Prince revolutionary was its rejection of idealism. Where previous political writers described how rulers should behave, Machiavelli described how they actually behave — and how to win. "Machiavellian" became an adjective meaning deviously cunning, though scholars argue Machiavelli was simply being honest about power. The Prince is required reading in political science programs worldwide.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1532. Free to read and share.