" This is essential reading for any student of Western history. This may have been a practical guide to leadership in Machiavelli's own time (if such was his intention), but much of it obviously doesn't apply to contemporary Western democratic systems of government for the simple fact that our leaders are (supposedly) accountable to THE PEOPLE, and not the other way around. Then again, one could argue that our modern equivalent of a "prince" isn't to be found in politics, but in the world of business (which wouldn't make the practice of Machiavelli's ideas any less reprehensible, mind you). "
— Adrian, 1/20/2014