Machiavelli - Past Masters Author:Quentin Skinner Niccolo Machiavelli taught that political leaders must be prepared to do evil that good may come of it, and his name has been a byword ever since for duplicity and immorality. Is his sinister reputation deserved? In answering this question Quentin Skinner focuses on three major works, ThePrince, the Discourses, and ... more »m>The History of Florence, and distills from them an introduction to Machiavelli of exemplary clarity.« less