Publication

Niccolò Machiavelli’s best-known book contains a number of maxims concerning politics, concentrating on the possibilities and methods of becoming and remaining the ruler of a society - becoming its "prince". To retain power, the hereditary prince must carefully maintain the socio-political institutions to which the people are accustomed, whereas a new prince has the more difficult task in ruling, since he must first stabilize his new-found power in order to build an enduring political structure. That requires the prince being concerned with reputation but also being willing to act immorally.