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. Because Machiavelli lived in such tumultuous times, he placed a lot of value on acting to unite the state. By “the state,” he means any organization of power.

In The Prince, it is asserted that a good ruler is one that works for the benefit of the state at all times, even when this requires acting im...