The portrayal of Machiavelli as an amoral apologist for tyrants is due to the tendency to read The Prince in isolation rather than in conjunction with Machiavelli's other work, Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livius.

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Reading "The Prince" in isolation can lead to a perception of Machiavelli as amoral, but "Discourses on Livy" reveals his republican ideals, providing a more nuanced understanding of his political philosophy.

The Portrayal of Machiavelli as an Amoral Apologist for Tyrants