Machiavelli had a very realistic idea of how a government should be run. This was very different than previous philosophers who had idealistic views of the political world.
Plato’s Republic
Saint Augustine’s City of God
Before Machiavelli, princes were advised to strive to be the best prince and practice good virtues, but Machiavelli thought a prince must learn how not to be good and use or not use this knowledge “according to necessity.”
Machiavelli frequently resorted to “necessity” as a way to excuse actions that might otherwise be condemned as immoral