Introduction Few statements in the history of political thought have generated as much controversy as Niccolò Machiavelli's assertion in The Prince that a ruler must learn "how not to be good" and must know when circumstances require departure from conventional morality. This proposition represents the core of Machiavelli's doctrine of political necessity and marks a … Continue reading Analyse Machiavelli’s conception of political necessity as reflected in his assertion that a prince must learn “not always to be good.” How does this challenge classical and medieval traditions of political ethics?