No, don't read and follow the Prince, there is no reward on earth that is good enough to justify becoming a person who does your #3 "well". Normal decent people can see your machinations from a mile away, and you will never have the chance to talk to another decent human being again, as they will just avoid you. What reward can possibly justify that?
Who would want to be surrounded by people who view them as a politician?
Who would want to be surrounded by people who view them as a politician?