Published posthumously in 1532, 'The Prince' by Niccolò Machiavelli is one of the most influential works of political philosophy ever written. Written during a period of intense political instability in Italy, Machiavelli argued that a leader's primary goal is the stability and power of the state, even if it requires immoral actions. He famously asked whether it is better to be loved or feared, concluding that while both are ideal, it is safer to be feared if one must choose. This 'political realism' was a radical departure from medieval political thought, which emphasized that a ruler must be a moral and religious figure. The work gave rise to the term 'Machiavellian' to describe cunning or duplicitous political behavior. It laid the groundwork for modern political science by separating ethics from the practical exercise of power.