With the term "fortune," Machiavelli refers to the unpredictability of fate, meaning the ways in which chance, opportunity, and pure luck often influence the course of life. In opposition to fortune, Machiavelli places the idea of "prowess," referencing the skills and abilities that men possess and use to exert control over their circumstances. A leader cannot maintain his hold on a state without a certain degree of skill and prowess. We must take precautions!

Machiavelli blurs the line between virtue and vice, arguing that, for a leader, the value of an action rests solely on the context and end ...