Machiavelli was a true child of the Renaissance. He was a thoroughgoing humanist who looked fondly to antiquity for models of learning, wisdom and statesmanship. The Prince stands as a monument to the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts. Yet Machiavelli was also a humanist in the broader sense in that he set forth a vision of political philosophy uninfluenced by prevailing standards of Christian morality. Indeed, it was this feature of his magnum opus that made Machiavelli's name notorious for centuries.

Both senses of the word humanism coalesce in how Machiavelli understands human nature. Prior to Machiavelli, political philosophers, in keeping with their religious convictions, tended to deal with people as they ought to be, judging political actors by high moral standards inherited from the Christian tradition.

Machiavelli's whole approach to the matter is completely different. He takes people as he finds them, as they actually are. If you want to give sound political advice to a prince, then you need to deal with a real world, not an ideal one. And in the real world politics is a messy business. Lying, cheating, stealing, repression, subterfuge and brutality are just some of the more unpleasant characteristics of everyday political life. If a prince wants to get on, if he wants to keep hold of his territory, then he needs to learn the rules of the political game, and fast. And if this means acting with utter ruthlessness, then so be it.

After all, this is what the Romans did. They understood the dictates of politics; they knew what had to be done to keep their territorial integrity intact and suppress rival powers. At no point did they allow themselves to be seduced by some high-minded ideal of statecraft. Indeed, it's telling that the Roman Empire only really began to collapse when its ruling classes embraced Christianity.

It's fair to say that Machiavelli has had something of a bad press down the centuries. His cynical, brutally realistic take on politics has been held responsible for giving succor to every tinpot tyrant, dictator and despot ever since. But beneath its superficially callous exterior there beats a profoundly humanist heart. For Machiavelli in The Prince the security and stability of the state are of paramount importance. Yet this is not an end in itself; it is a means to a much higher, and more morally elevated end. That end is the flourishing of each and every human being. It is difficult to think of a vision more in keeping with the spirit of the Renaissance.

How does The Prince symbolize the humanist revival of Greek and Roman texts during the Renaissance?

There are really two parts to this question. The first deals with the concept of humanism that gained sway during the Renaissance in Italy and beyond. The second addresses the related issue of secularism. Let us look at each part.

Machiavelli was a humanist through and through. Like most of his peers, he looked to antiquity for guidance and wisdom. The Prince, like all of his works, is full of classical references, allusions, and examples. In chapter 3, for example, he uses the history of the Roman Empire to demonstrate what happens when foreigners occupy a territory. In the next chapter, he points to Alexander the Great's rule over Persia in order to examine another aspect of the same issue. He then uses many other leaders from antiquity to demonstrate the uses of armed power. Like all humanists, Machiavelli used the past to inform the present. The Greeks and Romans offered a trove of examples that could be exploited for the benefit of Machiavelli's readers. 

When addressing the issue of secularism, Machiavelli's core message is that a ruler cannot be guided by abstract notions of morality, including Christian justice. Rather, he must make decisions based on what is most likely to preserve and expand his power. Machiavelli essentially argues that the ends (the preservation of power) justify the means (cruelty, treachery, or other methods). No message could be further from the idea of a "Christian king," who would govern according to God's will. As a result, Machiavelli's secularism was as pronounced as his reliance on classical texts.

The Prince promotes secularism in that Machiavelli states that a prince can retain power by promoting his own greatness.  He does not have to be good or seek God's favor, but he has to appear to be good—this gives the prince power and responsibility at the same time.  Machiavelli states that the prince should not be loved nor hated; he must be respected.  The prince must also act according to what the situation demands at the time.  The prince must also be a student of military strategy because most of the prince's subjects associate good leadership with public safety.  This is a significant departure from medieval thought, a time when warfare was often left up to God's will or the ability of individual soldiers.  Machiavelli gives the prince more decision-making power in defending his realm.  Machiavelli's text was quite controversial at the time because it minimized the role of religion in governance, but it has stood the test of time because of its lessons in leadership.