Hi Edmond,
Interesting name......spent some time in the borg, no? Did you also escape in a body bag from the chateau?
Machiavelli wrote quite some interesting books. The one: Il principe, has already bveen mentioned and based on that book the expression machiavellian is used.
It must be said though that Machiavelli wrote that book as a....stander by, as just watching the events unfold...describing what he has seen without labeling it with moral considerations. Something is good or bad in the sense of appropriate to achieve a goal...or not. I believe nowadays we would call that...professional. In that sense, yes, the term scrupulous could be used.
On the other hand he has written a book on the florentine republic as well as on the art of war.
Whether or not a person's moral gets in the way of achieving a goal was beyound his purpose. I would recommend you read it. It is an eyeopener. And ......he really has a point......it is the way the world is.......with or without a bill of rights. In that sense you may want to reflect on Jesus parable of the unfaithful steward who got sacked but showed a remarkable sense of practicle wisdom.....
Cheers
Borgia