The wisdom to be gleaned from the buon Niccolò helps us to become better citizens, and to live in a better way

With so many leader writers, commentators and experts, it may seem like a bizarre idea to turn to Niccolò Machiavelli for help in choosing our prince wisely when we must vote and for advice on how to be wise citizens. Machiavelli lived in two centuries, from 1469 to 1527, never saw a democratic republic and yet became famous throughout the world for his book The Prince, in which he did not dispense advice to citizens but to the ruler. And yet Machiavelli is still the right man to ask. While he too had personal interests and ambitions, they were not at odds with the common good. This is the best guarantee that we will obtain excellent advice from him. Machiavelli is a competent advisor, without personal interests, and has Italy’s good at heart. Finding another man with the same qualities is rather difficult. Besides, he has always liked to give advice and has always held us Italians in special consideration.