The most famous work of the writer was the treatise "The Sovereign", originally published in Russia under the names "Prince" and "Ruler". Machiavelli created the doctrine of a consistently secular state, free from ecclesiastical morality. He believed that in the struggle for the consolidation of the state, any means are permissible: violence, deception, betrayal. The term "Machiavellianism", which appeared later, began to denote a policy that disregarded the laws of morality. However, today many of the author's statements are taken for granted, having found their embodiment in the history of the XX century.
The book also includes a brilliant treatise by Niccolo Machiavelli "On the Art of War", which stunned contemporaries with a tough and practical approach not only to military tactics, but also to strategy.