Late 15th early 16th century diplomat, political operative, part-time philosopher, and full-time wino.
His most famous work is a guide to obtaining and maintaining political power called "The Prince." People have taken it and used its principles in every other pursuit including art.
The rub is that he was highly controversial on two marks.
1. The standard interpretation of
The Prince is as follows- people are rotten. You cannot behave as though they were virtuous. You must then be clever and out-rotten them. Breaking your word, backstabbing subordinates, relying on fear are all considered permissible if it means a careful maintenance of the status quo.
2. This interpretation is not without inaccuracy. He seems very overt in
The Prince. But some interpret it as an expose- showing how the corrupt, tyrannical mind operates. When taken together with his other works, there are even more nuanced interpretations.
The value of reading him for the Christian, carefully and prayerfully, is two-fold. You can.
1. Read it like the Screwtape Letters if you fall into category 1 up top.
2. Hold
The Prince up to the light of context and Scripture. The Bible instructs us to be wary of human nature an never assume people will act contrary to it until the Day of Redemption. That to everything there is a season based. Needs require prescription. Be as wise as serpents, but as innocent as doves. Etc.
When Machiavelli's restatement of these timely truths is quite valuable for the Christian. Just know that he can switch from good advice to bad advice in the same paragraph. I would not recommend it to someone new in the faith.
Like your OP indicates, the line isn't always easy to determine. Er on the side of trust and obedience, as always.