Because Machiavelli had such strong convictions regarding the attributes of an ideal prince, he wrote a book! The Prince, by Machiavelli, touches on all the important character traits of such a ruler. He includes a prince's attributes, his focus, his strategies and his behavior.

We start first on what Machiavelli's idea of a prince's attributes should be. There are four main attributes that a prince should possess: intelligence, strength, determination, and tenaciousness. A prince must have the smarts to determine right from wrong. In times of trouble, he must know which path to take next. Strength; a prince must be physically, and emotionally strong to face whatever comes at him. A prince's determination is very crucial in times of hardship. A prince must be willing to push on through the most difficult of times. He also must encourage his people and believe for himself that the struggle will...