Niccolò Di Bernardo Dei Machiavelli: Selections

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), an Italian political philosopher, is remarkable for his self-contradictions. In his writings he appears sometimes as a cynical pragmatist, sometimes - as an ardent Republican. Perception of Machiavelli is also quite contradictory - sometimes entirely derogatory and scornful, sometimes - admiring and appreciative. Who was he, this peer of Leonardo da Vinci? A smart and cruel manipulator or a passionate libertarian? And if both are true, does not it shed a strange light on the heritage of High Renaissance? Our readers can now judge Machiavelli on the basis of his work.