What is white, Italian, starts with an “M” and is hated everywhere? No, it's not mozzarella cheese, it's Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was a Florentine chancellor and a well-known philosopher. He is notorious for being amoral and his entire collection of works was included in the Papal Index (Machiavelli's The Prince). Although he lived during the 1400s, his works are still read, analyzed, scrutinized, and, in the case of modern politicians, used as a model for leading a nation. Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 to Bernardo di Niccolo. and Bartolomea Nelli (Machiavelli p. 145). The name Machiavelli, at one time, came from the Tuscan nobility, although at the time of Niccolo's birth the only thing left was a bit of country estate and a few houses in Florence (Machiavelli and the Italy of the Renaissance p. 28). Niccolo's father, although a lawyer, was somewhat less successful than the other branch of Machiavelli and he used everything he earned as a lawyer to care for his four children. Machiavelli shared a house with his two sisters, Primavera and Margherita and his brother Totto (p. 28.). Machiavelli's mother was known to be a religious poet, which is ironic considering her son's views on religion. In 1498, Niocolo was elected second chancellor (p. 32). His job description was simply to ensure that other people's policy decisions were implemented. In 1502, Machiavelli married his wife, Marietta di Ludovico Corsini. Many sources state that she was probably a very patient person and a beneficent influence on Machiavelli's life (Machiavelli p. 149). Machiavelli had six children: Bernardo, Baccia, Ludovico, Piero, Guido and an unnamed daughter. In 1503, he arrived in Rome and took notes on a papal elected...... middle of paper...... standards. This work also gives insight into Machiavelli's utter disgust for humanity and he is quoted as saying, "If men were good, then everyone should be good in return," but because men are miserable creatures, who do not you don't keep your word, you don't have to keep your word. your word for them. (Page 152) Machiavelli also states that “men will always be false to you unless they are compelled by necessity to be true.” (P. 152) We can see where he draws his conclusion that acting immorally to gain a principality is acceptable. To Machiavelli, he only does to one, what one would do to him. It is interesting to see the connections between this text written in the 1500s and politicians today. Many people might agree that The Prince is a textbook for figures such as Stalin or Hitler, but many others might see the connection between Machiavelli's words and George W. Bush's actions..