[[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 a self-serving 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 the world 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.
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 citizens. While the book was written in the form of a guide for princes, there was no actual prince involved, unlike guide books written by others. 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 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.