The Prince

The Prince is an influential treatise written by the political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli in 1513, which was published in 1532 - five years after his death. It essentially says that theological or ethical considerations are irrelevant in political decision making. Though many of us haven't read his work, most have heard or used the word "Machiavellian" - now a pejorative adjective - to describe anyone whose ruthless self-interest guides his actions. But Machiavelli was a realist, and his theories are not evil in themselves. They describe rules that guide political decision making... Yes Stalin had The Prince on his nightstand, but it was his interpretation of the rules that made him a totalitarian scumbag. The Prince is also credited for introducing into wide usage the sayings "the end justifies the means," and "it is better to be feared than loved." Which brings to mind about half of Shakespeare's villains, who in fact were inspired by the rules in Machiavelli's The Prince.