Niccolo Machiavelli

In Machiavelli's view there was one great obstacle to achieving the goals of "modern prudence"—i.e., power and plenty—and that obstacle was the political power of the Church, along with the influence of revealed, dogmatic religion more generally. The Church used its political power to undermine loyalty to the state; its cultural power to weaken military virtue, imperialistic expansion, and to make men place their good in the next life. --James Hankins, Republic of Devils, Claremont Review of Books, Winter 2008/09, review of Against Throne and Altar: Machiavelli and Political Theory Under the English Republic, by Paul A. Rahe

The Florentine Enigma, by Matthew Simpson, First Things, Monday, September 17, 2007, 6:50 AM