/lit/ - Literature

What are some good books about the Machiavellian arts? I mean ones that discuss techniques and ideally the psychological principles at work behind them. I want to learn how people are controlled by psychopaths, cult leaders, etc. -- for purely educational reasons, of course.

>le Slytherin man discussion:)
>If Machiavelli we're alive today, what would he say about the political state of the world?

I think he'd be pretty distressed about the mass concentration of power into a few hands, the general lack of trust in states and lack of pride of individuals and families, the overall pursuit of money and other materialistic comforts at the expense of civic virtue and philosophy, the general disbelief in Religion, and the association of any violence with "immaturity" and "evilness". All in all he'd think we're just a bunch of pussies and surprisingly apathetic, despite the vast improvements in life all around us.

But of course I'm wrong and this must be baby's first reading of Machiavelli, so what does /lit/ think?
>Incoming he'd just be surprised we have airplanes

Because he's misunderstood. Also he nails the idea of a republic for and from the 'common good of the people' thing about 200 years before the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

>>3069356
>tfw nobody understands your work
>tfw the work you care the least about is the most popular
>tfw people have forgotten the ideas most important to you and only remember have of your philosophy

What translations should I read of The Prince, Discourses on Livy, and The Art of War?

Does it even matter?

Hello gentlemen, I saw the thread and decided to help my friend Fred close it.

"Men were born with the ability to desire everything and the inability to obtain everything."

Pic related, it's me.

So I was told that a few books written by this man, Niccolo Machiavelli, describe the best way of how to manipulate people. From what I understand, I should start with "The Prince" and then read "The Art of War".

Thoughts?

I lol'd, pray tell you don't really think anyone on /lit/ is miserable like that, please, take yourself and that image back to /b/ or /v/ where you both belong, secretly wanting to suck unambitious loser cock.

The end justifies the means.