Machiavelli is often considered a cynical realist who would consider anything to stay in power; this has left him off the reading list for most liberals in today's world.  They are missing out.  Much of Machiavelli's advice would be very useful to liberals.  For example, Machiavelli councils that too much mercy often leads to the multiplication of social problems, not their amelioration: The modern situations regarding homelessness and immigration come quickly to mind.  This paper explores these and other lessons that liberals could learn from Machiavelli.