The Prince

While Machiavelli worked and played an active role in shifting the ruling powers in Europe, he developed a political philosophy based on the belief that the unity of the state is above all else. In The Prince, most of Machiavelli’s phrasing revolves around princedoms, or monarchies ruled by a prince, but he writes that the principles can be applied to any sort of organized political power. Machiavelli uses this treatise to assert that a good ruler is one that works for the benefit of the state at all times, even when this requires acting immorally or unethically.He also spends a good bit of the book reflecting on the means by which a ruler gains their power, as well as the traits a ruler should espouse. Told in a straightforward manner and with a depth of understanding that comes from having a front-seat to the turmoil of Renaissance Italy’s government, this book still stands as one of the most impactful works of political theory centuries later.