Niccolò Machiavelli

In honor of Niccolò Machiavelli's birthday today (May 3, 1469 - June 21, 1527), I would like to share a quote taken from The Prince:

"And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined." -- Niccolo Machiavelli