Machiavellian comes from Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian who experienced political and physical survival in one of the most tumultuous periods of Italian history. He was a diplomat for the Medici, experienced the Borgia at first hand, and was imprisoned and tortured. Having retired from public life, he wrote a book called The Prince in which he describes how to rule in times of turbulence. The gist of Machiavellian could be summarised as political expediency or the end justifying the means.
12 Apr /13
