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==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
The introduction contains some biased language and comments and I created an account specifically because it does not appear to be objective.  I acknowledge this site has a conservative viewpoint but comments like "the best prose writer" are completely unnecessary and could easily be changed into "considered one of the best prose writers of his time in Italy, Mr/Ms. X writes "abc Machiavelli's magnificent prose style xyz."  Furthermore, as a student who has studied Machiavelli, I found some comments to be incorrect.  For example, "which showed how a self-serving 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")" is very poorly done.  A) according to Machiavelli a just Prince would be morally justified in taking power because the betterment of citizen's lives justified the Prince's sordid means.  Furthermore, a true Machiavellian Prince would not need to "disclose" it's goals as role, and goals, of a true Prince were already outlined by Machiavelli.  Other statements such as "For that matter, no tyrant has ever needed the book to get ideas how to oppress people" and "Machiavelli, most scholars believe, was dedicated to republicanism as the best form of government and opposed tyranny. The Prince was a warning that it could happen like this if citizens let down their guard" and non-cited statements of speculation.  Lastly, the statement "major positive influence of" is unclear as it does not illustrate what a "positive" influence is and is thus vacuous. --- {{unsigned|Sardonac}} ---  21:49, 4 May 2009  
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The introduction contains some biased language and comments and I created an account specifically because it does not appear to be objective.  I acknowledge this site has a conservative viewpoint but comments like "the best prose writer" are completely unnecessary and could easily be changed into "considered one of the best prose writers of his time in Italy, Mr/Ms. X writes "abc Machiavelli's magnificent prose style xyz."  Furthermore, as a student who has studied Machiavelli, I found some comments to be incorrect.  For example, "which showed how a self-serving 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")" is very poorly done.  A) according to Machiavelli a just Prince would be morally justified in taking power because the betterment of citizen's lives justified the Prince's sordid means.  Furthermore, a true Machiavellian Prince would not need to "disclose" it's goals as role, and goals, of a true Prince were already outlined by Machiavelli.  Other statements such as "For that matter, no tyrant has ever needed the book to get ideas how to oppress people" and "Machiavelli, most scholars believe, was dedicated to republicanism as the best form of government and opposed tyranny. The Prince was a warning that it could happen like this if citizens let down their guard" and other non-cited statements of speculation don't contribute to the article.  Lastly, the statement "major positive influence of" is unclear as it does not illustrate what a "positive" influence is and is thus vacuous. --- {{unsigned|Sardonac}} ---  21:49, 4 May 2009  
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:::Mr. Sardonicus must be bored up there north of you in Toronto, Richard. I know that you, like me, cannot wait to see their substantial contributions here, to match their obviously ponderous intellect. --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]<sub><small><small>/Admin</small></small></sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 02:02, 5 May 2009 (EDT)
 
:::Mr. Sardonicus must be bored up there north of you in Toronto, Richard. I know that you, like me, cannot wait to see their substantial contributions here, to match their obviously ponderous intellect. --[[User:TK|'''₮K''']]<sub><small><small>/Admin</small></small></sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 02:02, 5 May 2009 (EDT)
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::::I'm not sure whether or not that was intended as an insult but if it was it is completely unnecessary.  Whether or not this was written by a historian is irrelevant, poor encyclopedic writing is poor writing.  All it does is reflect the personal, and unsubstantiated, opinions of one person on a very broad subject.  Even if it were cited, the style of this featured article is poor.  Not being cited, I ask again for permission to amend the article to remain as strictly factual as possible.
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