Niccolo Machiavelli's contributions to Englightenment thought are considered innovative and practical by some and villainous by others. One of Machiavelli's most famous ideas has to do with the regard a people might have for their ruler. Machiavelli is remembered for his belief that a leader is better off feared than loved; this kind of relationship makes the safety of a ruler much more secure and the tenure of the leader's time in power much more stable.

In his most famous work, The Prince, Machiavelli discusses his pragmatic approach to leadership in very frank terms; the way of politics, in his opinion, often warrants such acts as treachery and the sacrifice of the lives of innocent people. Politicians have long used these approaches, and that was simply the reality of the situation when power was involved. Machiavelli was an unusual thinker for this time period because he tended to ignore abstract ideals in favor of reality and truth. In Machiavelli's opinion, ruminating on what makes an ideal society had little to do with the actual role of a leader and was, therefore, a waste of time and valuable intellectual resources.