Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, a treatise on political philosophy published in 1532. The text focuses on different types of principalities, including hereditary, new, and mixed, and discusses the various methods that princes can use to acquire and maintain power. Machiavelli argues that a prince must be both feared and loved, but that if he cannot achieve both, he should choose to be feared. He also emphasizes the importance of having a strong army, both for defense and for offensive purposes, and warns against relying on mercenaries or auxiliary forces. The text also explores the nature of fortune and how a prince can use his knowledge of the world to anticipate and overcome its unpredictable nature. Overall, the text provides a realistic and pragmatic analysis of how to acquire and maintain political power in a world that is often brutal and unforgiving.