"The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him."
"Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer."
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Source: Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Discourses”, p.469, Penguin UK
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