The very name of a politician, a statesman, is sure to cause terror and hatred; it has always connected with it the ideas of treachery, cruelty, fraud, and tyranny; and those writers who have faithfully unveiled the mysteries of state-freemasonry, have ever been held in general detestation, for even knowing so perfectly a theory so detestable.

The case of Machiavel seems at first sight something hard in that respect.

He is obliged to bear the iniquities of those whose maxims and rules of government he published.
His speculation is more abhorred than their practice.
But if there were no other arguments against artificial society than this I am going to mention, methinks it ought to fall by this one only.
All writers on the science of policy are agreed, and they agree with experience, that, all governments must frequently infringe the rules of justice to support themselves; that truth must give way to dissimulation; honesty to convenience; and humanity itself to the reigning interest.

The whole of this mystery of iniquity is called the reason of state.

It is a reason which I own I cannot penetrate.