The Prince

Focusing on the challenges faced by new rulers, the work delves into the strategies necessary for maintaining control over a realm. Machiavelli distinguishes between hereditary and new princes, emphasizing the latter's need to stabilize their power through sometimes morally ambiguous actions for the greater good. Unlike typical treatises on ideal governance, this book provides pragmatic insights based on historical examples and personal observations from diplomatic missions, reflecting Renaissance influences through its use of Latin and classical references.