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[[Image:Nicolo.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

[[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--and the best prose writer--in Italian history. 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 the leading political theorist--and the best prose writer--in Italian history. 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.