. . . a wise prince should establish himself on that which is in his own control and not in that of others; he must endeavour only to avoid hatred, as is noted. Presenting a controversial yet realistic political theory, Machiavelli, through his The Prince, has raised a political debate that remained volatile for centuries. In an era that was brimming with chaos and uncertainty, he gives principles that seem dictatorial and yet are ingrained with universal truths that portray human attitudes.