Niccolò Machiavelli

“ I do not discuss matters pertaining to the arts, which shine so much by themselves, which time cannot take away or add a little more glory which they merit by themselves; but I speak of those matters pertinent to the lives and customs of men, of which such clear evidences are not seen. ”

“ Moreover, the greater number of writers so obey the fortune of the winners that, in order to make their victories glorious, they not only exaggerate that which is gotten by their own virtu, but they also exaggerate the actions of the enemies ”

“ For as men wane ( (when they age) ) in strength but grow in judgment and prudence, so it is that those things which in their youth appeared supportable and good, will turn out ( (as they grow old) ) unsupportable and bad, and where they ought to blame their judgment, they blame the times. In addition to this, human appetites being insatiable ( (because by nature they have to be able to and want to desire everything, and to be able to effect little for themselves because of fortune) ) , there arises a continuous discontent in the human mind, and a weariness of the things they possess ”

“ But if they are born in that City or province after the time when it has begun to descend to its bad times, then he does not deceive himself. And in thinking of how these things go on, I judge that the world has always been in the same condition, and that there is as much good as there is bad in it ”