More than 480 years ago The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli was published. He established a system of governance that is still influential today. His ideas were available before thinkers like Rousseau and Locke. Men who believed that government derived its just powers from the consent of the governed. Machiavelli, unlike Rousseau and Locke, did not suggest government by the people, but a government in which power was centralized and secure in the hands of a few elites. His ideas, for example, led to the rise of France as a world power under the leadership of Louis XIV, arguably one of the most successful monarchs in European history. Today, Machiavelli's ideas are not as influential as they were among monarchs of the past. However, some of Machiavelli's ideas are still questionable and very influential in certain contexts today. In his book, Machiavelli emphasized the importance of separating good leadership qualities from virtuous character. In The Prince, his intention was not to answer what constitutes good human moral behavior, but what makes a good ruler. One of Machiavelli's main points is to show a virtuous character, while not necessarily being virtuous if this allows you to maintain power over your principality: “It is therefore not necessary for a prince to have all the good qualities that I have enumerated, but it is absolutely necessary to seem to have them. And I will also dare to say this, that having them and observing them always is harmful, and that pretending to have them is useful; appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, righteous and be such, but with a mind so structured that if you were to request not to be such, you may be able and know how to change into the opposite. [Machiavelli, The Prince, chap. XIX]. Machiavelli, however, suggests that... midway through the paper... they cannot be removed from power. This, however, is not the case for countries that follow other systems of government, such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). North Korea (and more specifically “the Supreme Leader”) displays benevolence and good qualities of character in many circumstances. This, however, is not always necessarily true. The supreme leader has sometimes taken measures (behind the scenes) to assert and maintain his power. Today many of Machiavelli's ideas are still relevant and used. They have guided monarchs throughout history. And they have been a source of knowledge for modern rulers as well, regardless of the system of government. As countries become more democratic, many of Machiavelli's ideas are becoming less relevant in certain contexts. This does not mean, however, that Machiavelli will continue to influence rulers for a long time to come.