The Sweetness of Power

This volume contains two works by Renaissance writers: Machiavelli's "Discourses on the First Decade of Livy" and Guicciardini's "History of Italy". Reflecting on Ancient Rome, both thinkers refined their conceptions of government with an eye to the political turmoil of their own Florence.

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The question of order inspired two of the greatest political thinkers of the Renaissance—Niccoló Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini, whose major works on the nature of government are linked in an authoritative new translation. Political adversaries but nonetheless friends, Machiavelli and Guicciardini both reflected on ancient Rome and refined their conceptions of government with an eye to the political turmoil of their own Florence.


Based on the definitive Italian editions and including extensive explanatory notes, this new translation recreates the fascinating conflict that helped to shape the history of political thought.