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[[Image:Nicolo.jpg|right|thumb|Portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli by Santi di Tito.]]

[[Image:Nicolo.jpg|right|thumb|Portrait of [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] by Santi di Tito.]]

'''Niccolò Machiavelli''' (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527), was the leading political theorist of the [[Renaissance]] and one of the best nonfiction writers in all of Italian literature. A politician and writer based in [[Florence]], he is best known for his book ''[[The Prince]]'', which showed how an aspiring ruler will follow the policy that the "end justifies the means," whereby a ruler can gain power (the "means") in any deceitful or unjust manner possible in order to achieve his often undisclosed goals (the "end"). During his time and long afterward, Machiavelli was considered to have been inspired by the devil, and his name has been used for centuries to describe the use or approval of unscrupulous, self-serving political action.  ''The Prince'' made Machiavellian a byword for deceit, despotism and political manipulation, as in a politician who spends all his time and effort on obtaining and retaining power for himself.

'''Niccolò Machiavelli''' (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527), was the leading political theorist of the [[Renaissance]] and one of the best nonfiction writers in all of Italian literature. A politician and writer based in [[Florence]], he is best known for his book ''[[The Prince]]'', which showed how an aspiring ruler will follow the policy that the "end justifies the means," whereby a ruler can gain power (the "means") in any deceitful or unjust manner possible in order to achieve his often undisclosed goals (the "end"). During his time and long afterward, Machiavelli was considered to have been inspired by the devil, and his name has been used for centuries to describe the use or approval of unscrupulous, self-serving political action.  ''The Prince'' made Machiavellian a byword for deceit, despotism and political manipulation, as in a politician who spends all his time and effort on obtaining and retaining power for himself.

==== Quotes from The Prince<ref name="Guinness"/>====

==== Quotes from The Prince<ref name="Guinness"/>====

{{Cquote|''Fortune is a woman, and if she is to be mastered, she must be beaten and seduced.''}}

{{Cquote|''Fortune is a woman, and if she is to be mastered, she must be beaten and seduced.''}}

{{Cquote|''Is it better to be loved or feared? Love is a bond men will break when it is to their advantage to do so. So I say it is better to be feared. But above all, avoid being hated.''}}

{{Cquote|''Is it better to be loved or feared? Love is a bond men will break when it is to their advantage to do so. So I say it is better to be feared. But above all, avoid being hated.''}}

== "Machiavellism" in the field of psychology ==

== "Machiavellism" in the field of psychology ==

''See also:'' [[Machiavellianism (psychology)]]

''See also:'' [[Machiavellianism (Psychology)]]

Generally speaking, the term "Machiavellian" is used by people who are unfamiliar with the works of Machiavelli, or do not understand them. Machiavellianism in the field of [[psychology]] has a different connotation than as in the field of [[political science]]. It is defined as a manipulative strategy of social interaction and personality style that uses other people as tools to achieve for personal gain.<ref name="Braiker">{{cite book

Generally speaking, the term "Machiavellian" is used by people who are unfamiliar with the works of Machiavelli, or do not understand them. Machiavellianism in the field of [[psychology]] has a different connotation than as in the field of [[political science]]. It is defined as a manipulative strategy of social interaction and personality style that uses other people as tools to achieve for personal gain.<ref name="Braiker">{{cite book