The overarching theme of The Prince is the use of immoral means for a desired result. While much of the immorality sanctioned by Machiavelli can be attributed to the political turmoil and continual military conflict of the Renaissance Era, it is still appalling to many that such a level of deception and cruelty was recommended by a man who is now remembered as one of the preeminent political philosophers in history. In Chapter 15, Machiavelli begins his discussion concerning “the rules of conduct for a prince towards subject and friends” with the caveat that his methods depart from those of other people (59). In the following passage, he describes the advice that he offers as “the real truth of the matter” rather than “the imagination of it” (59). Today, this would be described as political realism, a philosophy in which ideological or ethical concerns are dismissed in favor of pragmatic political gains.

In Machiavelli’s early discussions concerning how princes should obtain and maintain power, immoral means for a desired result is a frequent recommendation, but much of that might simply be attributed to the nature of the times. For instance, in Chapter 3, Machiavelli cautions that when an

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