The term “Machiavellian” is defined as being conniving, duplicitous, efficient, and calculating. This term derived its origin from the philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. But was Machiavelli actually deserving of this expression? Through both building up my arguments, and negating opposing arguments, I will show why it is more reasonable to believe that the term “Machiavellian” is not as fitting to Niccolò Machiavelli as may be thought. The main book I will focus on is Machiavelli’s …showed first 75 words of 2443 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2443 total…that epitomize virtue and honor and various other qualities of good men. I believe two excerpts epitomize Machiavelli’s true views. He says, “One cannot call it virtue to kill one’s citizens, betray one’s friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion,” and “One cannot attribute to fortune or to virtue what he achieved without either6.” Through all of this, we can reason that Machiavelli is not deserving of the term “Machiavellian.”