There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? Without going deep into the history of the Italian Renaissance City State era, the quote was a useful tool for the Princes of the era. It helped them spot the…
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? What kind of people does a leader surround themselves with? Is it a bunch of “Yes-Men” or are they subject matter experts, ready and willing to go toe-to-toe with…
A large part of mankind is angry not with the sins, but with the sinners. – Seneca What does that mean? To me, this speaks of the envy and bitterness that is part of the lives of so many people. They aren’t so mad that you are doing something prohibited by law or societal values, they are…
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win. – Mohandas Gandhi What does that mean? This is the block diagram for the path of peaceful resistance. They start by pretending you are insignificant. Then they make fun of you, trying to demean or dismiss your movement and/or objective….
The difference between death and taxes is death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets. – Will Rogers What does that mean? This is a quote from the cowboy, aviator, humorist, columnist and movie star from the early 20th century. One of his favorite targets for skewering was the government. This is probably one of…
Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it. – Thomas Jefferson What does that mean? To me, it speaks of the losses of war. In a war, no one wins, one side just lose less. That said, there are reasons to go to…
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. – Thomas Jefferson What does that mean? With all the present turmoil across the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and into the Arabian Peninsula, this quote seems to be appropriate. There has been a great deal of debate between…
