Niccolò Machiavelli

Would you rather be loved or feared? That question comes from Niccolò Machiavelli, a man from Renaissance Italy who lived from 1469 to 1527. He worked as a diplomat for the city of Florence and met many rulers. Today he is famous for one short, powerful book called The Prince. This little book is the single idea we'll explore: how leaders use power.

As a diplomat, Machiavelli saw real leaders make real choices. In 1513, after losing his job, he wrote The Prince to give practical advice: when to be kind and when to be tough, how to keep an army, how to win friends and handle enemies, and why looking strong can keep a city safe.

Because Machiavelli wrote about how power actually works, people call him the father of modern political thought. His name turned into the word 'Machiavellian' for clever, sometimes sneaky behavior. Many thinkers and leaders still study his ideas to learn about safety, order, and how governments make decisions.

Now imagine you're the leader—what would you do? Machiavelli wanted leaders to think clearly about results, not just promises. Thinking about his ideas helps us ask smart questions about fairness, safety, and what makes a good leader.