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<center>{{cquote|Machiavellianism cuts both ways; and it is generally true that political leaders who practise it will increase the number of evil-doers in their own country until finally public wrath will rise up and overthrow them. It would seem as if the [[Apostle Paul]] prophesied the events of our day when he wrote in his [[Epistle to the Romans|letter to the Romans]] (chap. i. 18): 'For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.'|||[[Samuel Igra]], ''[[Germany's National Vice]]'' (1945), p. 13<ref>Igra, Samuel (1945). [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.80851/page/n15/mode/2up?view=theater Germany's National Vice], p. 13. ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved October 5, 2023.</ref>}}</center>
[[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.