207,380 profiles ranked

Niccolò Machiavelli

Florentine statesman, diplomat, and political theorist (1469-1527) · Politicians · Died at 58

Niccolò Machiavelli is read about 7,115 times a day, in 159 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?
Compare

His name became shorthand for ruthless statecraft - the Florentine who wrote that rulers must be willing to do evil when necessity demands it, turning political philosophy from ideals to cold mechanics.

AcademicsWriter / AuthorLiteraturePoliticsHistoryPhilosophyPoetryTheatre

A life in dates

1550L’asino d’oro di Nicolo Machiavelli, cittadino et secretario fiorentino, con tutte l’altre sue operetteBook published after his death1532Historiae FlorentinaeBook published after his death, historical account of Florence by Niccolò Machiavelli, published posthumously in 1532The PrinceBook published after his death, political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli15321531Discourses on LivyBook published after his death, treatise on political philosophy by Niccolò Machiavelli1527Died21 June 15271517“So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.”In their wordsBook 1, Ch. 6 (as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick)

“It was the verdict of ancient writers that men afflict themselves in evil and weary themselves in the good, and that the same effects result from both of these passions.”In their wordsBook 1, Ch. 37 Variant: Nature has so contrived that to men, though all things are objects of desire, not all things are attainable; so

1513“When evening comes, I return home and enter my study; on the threshold I take off my workday clothes, covered with mud and dirt, and put on the garments of court and palace.”In their words10 December 1513Letter to Francesco Vettori (10 December 1513), as translated by James Atkinson, in Prince Machiavelli (1976), p. 19

“I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness. ...”In their wordsThe Prince (1513), Ch. 17, as translated by Luigi Ricci (1903)

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”In their wordsA variant translation of: "And the first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has

“A prince who is not wise himself will never take good advice.”In their wordsThe Prince (1513), Ch. 23; translated by W. K. Marriot

1469Born3 May 1469

Also in Deutsch

Photos 11

Oil painting of Machiavelli by Cristofano dell'AltissimoOil painting of Machiavelli by Cristofano dell'AltissimoMachiavelli's tomb in the Santa Croce Church in FlorenceMachiavelli's tomb in the Santa Croce Church in FlorenceLorenzo di Piero de' Medici, to whom the final version of The Prince was dedicatedLorenzo di Piero de' Medici, to whom the final version of The Prince was dedicatedEngraved portrait of Machiavelli, from the Peace Palace Library's Il Principe, published in 1769Engraved portrait of Machiavelli, from the Peace Palace Library's Il Principe, published in 1769Xenophon, author of the CyropediaXenophon, author of the CyropediaStatue at the UffiziStatue at the UffiziFrancis Bacon argued the case for what would become modern science which would be based more upon real experience and experimentation, free from assumptions about metaphysics, and aimed at increasing control of nature. He named Machiavelli as a predecessor.Francis Bacon argued the case for what would become modern science which would be based more upon real experience and experimentation, free from assumptions about metaphysics, and aimed at increasing control of nature. He named Machiavelli as a predecessor.

In their own words 10

,
Niccolò Machiavelli
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.

    1517, Book 1, Ch. 3 (as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick), Own words

  2. So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.

    1517, Book 1, Ch. 6 (as translated by LJ Walker and B Crick), Own words

  3. It was the verdict of ancient writers that men afflict themselves in evil and weary themselves in the good, and that the same effects result from both of these passions.

    1517, Book 1, Ch. 37 Variant: Nature has so contrived that to men, though all things are objects of desire, not all things are attainable; so, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Family

Parents

Niccolò Machiavelli

Partners

Children

Is this everyone?

Only relatives with a profile here are drawn, so a family can be larger than this. A line here can also be wrong.

Correct this family

About this person

Niccolò Machiavelli served as secretary to Florence's second chancery from 1498 to 1512, handling diplomatic and military affairs while the Medici were out of power. When the Medici retook Florence in 1512, he was expelled from office, mistakenly suspected of treason, and sent into exile. A year later he turned to writing. Around 1513 he drafted The Prince, a treatise advising that successful rulers must engage in unsavory acts - even killing political enemies - when political necessity requires it, a break from classical thought that made his work controversial from the moment it was published in 1532, five years after his death. His Discourses on Livy, composed around 1517, took a different tack and helped pave the way for modern republicanism, influencing Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau. Scholars still argue over whether he was describing reality or teaching tyranny.

Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1469 to 1527 · aged 58

Politicians born in the 1460s 6

Moctezuma II59.0Anne of France55.0Konstanty Ostrogski52.8Ferdinand II of Naples52.6Francis Phoebus of Navarre51.8Shō Shin51.7

Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.