"
The Prince", one of the many writings of
Niccolo Machiavelli, is the
definitive work on
how to be a complete socio-political weasel.
Evil abounds in this delightful book that was banned by
Pope Clement VIII.
Truly,
Pope Clement never anticipated the
internet, and thus you too have access to the flowering
genius of the world's first sucessful
backstabbing political/
military theorist and
philosopher. On a side note, if anyone ever is
stupid enough to claim to you that they are a follower of the
machiavellian philosophy, do not under any circumstances let them
watch your children or loan them a
substantial amount of money.
Without further stalling, here it is:
The Prince
Chapter 1 - How Many Kinds of Principalities There Are, and by what Means They are Acquired
Chapter 2 - Concerning Hereditary Principalities
Chapter 3 - Concerning Mixed Principalities
Chapter 4 - Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered by Alexander, Did Not Rebel Against the Successors of Alexander at his Death
Chapter 5 - Concerning the Way to Govern Cities or Principalities which Lived Under Their Own Laws Before They Were Annexed
Chapter 6 - Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired by One's Own Arms and Ability
Chatper 7 - Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired Either By the Arms of Others or By Good Fortune
Chapter 8 - Concerning Those Who Have Obtained a Principality by Wickedness
Chapter 9 - Concerning a Civil Principality
Chapter 10 - Concerning the Way in which the Strength of All Principalities ought to be Measured
Chapter 11 - Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities
Chapter 12 - How many kinds of Soldiery there are, and Concerning Mercenaries
Chapter 13 - Concerning Auxiliaries, Mixed Soldiery, and One’s Own
Chapter 14 - That which Concerns a Prince on the Subject of the Art of War
Chapter 15 - Concerning Things for which Men, and Especially Princes, are Praised or Blamed
Chapter 16 - Concerning Liberality and Meanness
Chapter 17 - Concerning Cruelty and Clemency, and whether it is Better to be Loved then Feared
Chapter 18 - Concerning the Way in which Princes should keep Faith
Chapter 19 - That One should avoid being Despised and Hated
Chapter 20 - Are Fortresses, and many other Things to which Princes often resort, Advantageous or Hurtful?
Chapter 21 - How a Prince should Conduct himself so as to gain Renown
Chapter 22 - Concerning the Secretaries of Princes
Chapter 23 - How Flatterers should be Avoided
Chapter 24 - Why the Princes of Italy have Lost their States
--- Under Construction ---
Chapter 25 - What Fortune can effect in Human Affairs and how to withstand Her
Chapter 26 - An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Barbarians