★★★★☆
“Be the most valiant lion and the most cunning fox.”
The general theme of The Prince is of accepting that the aims of princes – such as glory and survival – can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends.
The first half of this book focuses on political power and the means by which it can be attained, in the context of Machiavelli’s experience (written in 1513). Machiavelli's unapologetic pragmatism and keen insights into human nature challenge conventional morality, advocating for ruthlessness and cunning in leadership.
The second half of the book is perhaps more applicable (less constrained to a pure war context) than the first. So for this reason, I have organized my kindle below.
I also think the following is a good analysis and summary:
Key Highlights