The Prince's central premise is that princely goals – such as glory and survival – might excuse the use of immoral measures to accomplish those goals.



According to Machiavelli's letter, a version was distributed in 1513. The printed edition, however, did not appear until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. This was done with the approval of Medici Pope Clement VII, but "controversy had circulated about The Prince's works long before then, in fact since the first appearance of The Prince in manuscript."