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[[Image:Nicolo.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Portrait of Machiavelli by Santi di Tito.]]

[[Image:Nicolo.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Portrait of 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]] of [[The Renaissance]], he is best known for his book ''The Prince'', 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"). 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 a leading [[Renaissance]] era political theorist and lauded Italian writer. As a politician and writer based in [[Florence]] he is best known for his book ''The Prince'', which showed how a self-serving ruler will follow the policy that the "end justifies the means," whereby a ruler may gain power (the "means") by using any deceitful or unjust method in order to achieve his goals (the "end"). During his time and for 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 obtaining and retaining power for himself.

Was Machiavelli a Machiavellian? The question much debated by scholars is whether Machiavelli intended ''The Prince'' to be an actual guide book in how to be a ruthless tyrant, or--as most scholars argue--wrote it as a warning to republican citizens. While the book was written in the form of a guide for princes, there was no actual prince involved, unlike all the other guide books. For that matter, no tyrant has ever needed the book to get ideas how to oppress people.  On the other hand good citizens do need a guide to evil so that they can recognize it and fight back to keep their republican  institutions, distrust politicians, and keep watch for corruption.  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.

Whether Machiavelli intended ''The Prince'' to be an actual guide book on how to be a ruthless tyrant or wrote it as a warning to republican citizens is unclear. While the book was written in the form of a guide for princes, there is no actual prince involved, unlike his other guide books. Some scholars argue that no tyrant has ever needed the book to learn how to oppress their people and that this idea points toward Machiavelli as writing to protect the people from tyranny.  Furthermore, many scholars agree that citizens do need a guide to tyranny so that they may easily recognize it and fight to keep their republican  institutions and freedoms.  Machiavelli, most scholars believe, was dedicated to republicanism as the best form of government and opposed tyranny.  

In other books he took an opposite view, emphasizing that when a state does not have a Prince (a king), the people must have civic virtue. In ''Discourses on Livy'' Machiavelli has been a major positive influence of modern conservative thought through his impact on [[civic humanism]].  He took the lead in defining what civic virtue means for a citizen of a republic--a state where the people are sovereign and not some king. For example a citizen has the duty to oppose corruption and when called upon fight for his country.  His ideas on [[republicanism]] strongly influenced British, French and American thought on the duties of the good citizen, and can be traced through American history from the days of [[Benjamin Franklin]] and [[James Madison]] down to the 21st century.<ref>Paul A. Rahe, ed. ''Machiavelli's Liberal Republican Legacy'' (2005)</ref>

In other books he took an alternate view, emphasizing that when a state does not have a Prince (a king), the people must have civic virtue. Machiavelli's work ''Discourses on Livy'' is a major influence of modern conservative thought because of its impact on [[civic humanism]].  For example, he wrote that a citizen has a duty to oppose corruption and, when called upon, fight for his country.  His ideas on [[republicanism]] strongly influenced Western republican thought on the duties of good citizenship and can be traced through American history from the days of [[Benjamin Franklin]] and [[James Madison]] an into the 21st century.<ref>Paul A. Rahe, ed. ''Machiavelli's Liberal Republican Legacy'' (2005)</ref>

==Biography==

==Biography==

Machiavelli's father was a Florentine lawyer of moderate means, who came from an old and noble family. He supervised the superb humanistic education the boy received in the classics, literature, philosophy, and law.  

Machiavelli's father was a Florentine lawyer of moderate means, who came from an old and noble family. He supervised the superb humanistic education the boy received in the classics, literature, philosophy, and law.