A book review of 'The Prince' by Niccolo` Machiavelli, explaining, in particular, what the book reveals about Rule Of Law.

'This Barbarian tyranny stinks in all nostrils' – one of the last lines of 'The Prince', a book written by Niccolo` Machiavelli in 1513, which was primarily intended to serve as a guide to Lorenzo Di Medici's Government to permit Italy to be free of foreign occupation and invasions. Lorenzo did not accept to abide with this guide and this book was later (1959) listed on the Pope's Index of Prohibited Books. Today, 'The Prince', remains one of the most important works in Western political thought and had also been a point of reference for studies and suggestions for great world leaders such as: Cromwell, Frederick the Great, Louis the 14th, Napolean, Bismark and Kennedy.

Much of the text is related to '...how such states (Princedoms) are to be governed and maintained'. In it, Machiavelli analysis's the various types of monarchies, analysis's of the different types of states, how they may be obtained, and how they should be ruled. He also describes how power is seized and retained, how to rule the military forces and, the essence of his work, how a prince should act in all circumstances in order to accomplish these tasks. Machiavelli tried to construct a society that decreases exploitation and increases the well being of the populace. People are always ready to change masters since people only care about their personal conveniences. The noble people, or barons, are those who can easily give power to the Prince, but they can easily chop off his head since they have a share of his power. So the least threatening people are the common people, and a ruler should have faith in his citizenry since upon finding their land threatened by external forces, the Prince can rely on their capabilities. Therefore, it is important that a ruler is able...