"È meglio essere temuti che amati, se non si può essere entrambi."
Il principe è un saggio critico di dottrina politica scritto da Niccolò Machiavelli probabilmente tra la seconda metà del 1513 e l'inizio del 1514, nel quale espone le caratteristiche dei principati e dei metodi per conquistarli e mantenerli.

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian political thinker, historian, and writer, best known for The Prince, a guide on power and leadership. Living during the turbulent Italian Renaissance, he worked as a diplomat for the Republic of Florence before being exiled when the ruling government changed. His writings, often seen as pragmatic and even ruthless, explored politics, war, and human nature. Though controversial, his ideas remain influential in political science, strategy, and leadership today.