Machiavellism
Machiavellism
A political principle according to which every act of the state (or statesman) is permissible — especially with reference to foreign relations — which might be advantageous for one’s own country. The word refers to Niccolo di Bernardo Machiavelli, born May 3, 1469 in Florence, died June 22, 1527. Author of Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio (Discourses about the first ten books of Titus Livius), Il Principe (The Prince). — W.E.