Machiavelli's Virtue

In this book, Harvey C. Mansfield provides a detailed examination of Machiavelli's political thought, particularly his concept of 'virtue' and how it relates to political success.

Mansfield argues that Machiavelli's virtue involves a compromise with evil for the sake of political success and explores how this concept is central to Machiavelli's political science.

The book brings together essays that reflect Mansfield's thirty years of scholarship on the subject, offering insights into Machiavelli's advice on indirect rule, the role of sects in his politics, and the partisan character of his project.

Mansfield also discusses how Machiavelli's ideas have influenced modern institutions such as the impersonal state and the energetic executive.