The Prince- Niccolò Machiavelli How to Gain and Keep Power (Simplified Explanation) Imagine you are a king or leader. You want to stay in power, but people around you-rivals, enemies, even your own advisors-are waiting for you to fail. What should you do? Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a guidebook for rulers, teaching them how to gain power, keep it, and control people. He believed that a leader should be realistic, not moral-because the world is dangerous, and kindness alone won't protect you. Let's break down his main ideas like a survival guide for leaders.