Meandering in the past . . .

Today is the birthday of Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527), diplomat, political philosopher, musician, and a playwright. He is best known for a short political treatise, The Prince.

"The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." - Niccolo Machiavelli

"Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions." - Niccolo Machiavelli

"It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things." - Niccolo Machiavelli

"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are." - Niccolo Machiavelli

"The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it." - Niccolo Machiavelli

"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage." - Niccolo Machiavelli

Trivia bit: His surname yielded the modern political word Machiavellianism — the use of cunning and deceitful tactics in politics.

Machiavelli image source (1)