There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
Every time I look at you I get a fierce desire to be lonesome. | |
― Oscar Levant | |
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On This Day In: | |
2013 | RIP – Dear Abby |
Half-Life Problems | |
2012 | To The Soul… |
2011 | Reverted!! |
Posts Tagged ‘Niccolò Machiavelli’
Two Thoughts
Posted in Humor, Quotes, tagged Humor, Niccolò Machiavelli, On Flattery, On Honesty, On Truth, On Wanting To Be Alone, Oscar Levant, Quotes, The Prince on January 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Prudence
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Greatness, Leadership, Niccolò Machiavelli, Philosophy, Quotes on November 7, 2013| Leave a Comment »
A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get some tinge of it. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | Reason Against Reasons |
2011 | The 1% Rule Of Large Groups |
2010 | Going, Going, On… |
Expect Mike | |
Wasted Again? | |
You Did? | |
Reflecting Plenty | |
Old Math | |
Mental Images | |
Here’s Lookin’ At You, Kid | |
Learn | |
Nothing Feared Today | |
I Had Other Plans | |
Ratings… | |
Really? | |
Encourage Greatness | |
On Reading Books
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, Science and Learning, tagged Books, Learning, Niccolò Machiavelli, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, The Prince, The Study of History on September 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
When evening comes, I return home and go into my study. On the threshold I strip off my muddy, sweaty, workday clothes, and put on the robes of court and palace, and in this graver dress I enter the antique courts of the ancients and am welcomed by them, and there I taste the food that alone is mine, and for which I was born. And there I make bold to speak to them and ask the motives of their actions, and they, in their humanity, reply to me. And for the space of four hours I forget the world, remember no vexation, fear poverty no more, tremble no more at death: I pass indeed into their world. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | On America |
2011 | Shiver, Me Timbers! |
2010 | Fiduciary Breakdown |
Do Bold Things
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Ambition, Leadership, Niccolò Machiavelli, Philosophy, Quotes, Taking Action, The Prince on August 27, 2013| 4 Comments »
All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | Seven Causes |
2011 | I Feel A Tingle Coming On |
And You Are?
Posted in Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Niccolò Machiavelli, On Intelligence, On Learning, Quotes, The Prince on August 4, 2013| 9 Comments »
There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, and the third is useless. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | Not Too Late |
2011 | Persistence |
2009 | Health Care? |
Dangerous Systems
Posted in Leadership, Quotes, tagged Change, Leadership, Niccolò Machiavelli, Quotes, The Prince on July 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | Useful Science |
2011 | Say It, But Please Don’t Make Me Listen |
Times Change
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Leadership, Niccolò Machiavelli, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, The Prince on June 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »
A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways. | |
― Niccolò Machiavelli | |
From: “The Prince“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | Ashes Not Dust |
2011 | A Handful From Saudi |
None Of This Happened | |
Take Responsibility |
Two Books, Two Movies
Posted in 2013 Book Review, Book Review, Movies, Politics, Reading, Reviews, tagged 2013 Book Review, A Few Good Men, Book Review, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Highly Recommended Movie, Highly Recommended Reading, Humphrey Bogart, Iron Man 3 - movie review, José Ferrer, Miguel José Ferrer, Movie Review, Movies, Must See Movie, Niccolò Machiavelli, Politics, Robert Downey Jr, Robert Redford, The Caine Mutiny - movie review, The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell, The Great American Novel, The Great Gatsby - book review, The Mandarin, The Prince - book review, Tony Stark on May 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Today’s post is kind of a tape delay. The first book (“The Great Gatsby“) was finished a couple of weeks ago. No real reason for the delay, except that I’ve been watching a fair amount of baseball and just haven’t made the time. The second book (“The Prince“) was finished today. The first movie (“The Caine Mutiny“) was watched on Saturday afternoon last, while the second (“Iron Man 3“) was watched yesterday. | |
The Great Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925©) and is about a young man trying to find himself in New York in the 1920’s. The man (Nick Carraway) is from the mid-west and goes east to seek his fortune in the big city. It should be noted that he is already from a well-off family. His job is in the city, but his residence is in a wealthy suburb where he meets the title character, a wealthy “business” man named Jay Gatsby. Anyway, blah, blah, blah, life of extravagance / lost love / more blah, blah, / accident / death, end of story. | |
Widely considered a classic and “the great American novel”, the book is mostly read in high school and is now the basis for a soon to be released motion picture. Actually, this is a remake. There are four other versions, but one is “lost” (1926) and another is a made for TV (2000), so I’m not sure it really counts. The most recent is from 1974 and starred Robert Redford as Gatsby. I’ve never seen that version, so if I’m lucky, it’ll appear on TV soon as a promo for the new release which is due out this coming Friday. The new version stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Carraway. | |
I originally read this novel back in the Army when I hoped to get better educated in some of the “great” pieces of literature. I escaped it while I was in high school. | |
Is it great? No, at least I didn’t think so. Is it a “classic”? Yes. When I first read it, I remember finishing it and thinking “Wow! That was a great book, but I have no idea what it will mean in my life because there was no basis for common experience.” Okay, maybe a twenty year old sergeant in the Army didn’t think in those exact words, but that was the gist of my reaction. Thirty plus years later, if you asked me what it was about, I’d have told you, “rich guys in the ’20’s”. And that’s it… So, was it worth reading again? Only to the extent that it prepares me for watching the new movie. Would I recommend reading it? Yes, but with qualifications. If you are interested in one of the great works of fiction by one of the bohemian writers from the early 20th century – definitely. If you want to see a “crafted” novel (I’m not sure what that means, but I keep seeing the description in reader reviews) – definitely. If you’re trying to better understand the American rich of the 1920’s – definitely. If you’re trying to find a novel which will change your life? Well, it didn’t do it for me back in the ’70’s and even less so with a second go. Final recommendation – moderate recommend; but I’d wait and just go see the movie. It will cause you less time from your life. (I hope to review the movie next week, so you may want to hold off.) | |
“The Prince” was written by Niccolò Machiavelli (1513). Any book on politics which survives 400 years is bound to be considered a “classic” and this is (both considered and IS). There are a multitude of observations about gaining and keeping power in the city/state of the Renaissance Era Italy. I think, with a bit of careful consideration and some adaptation, many of Machiavelli’s ideas are still valid. I rather doubt gathering one’s enemies in a room and strangling them, would be considered appropriate in this day and age – even in Italy. Anyway, I found the book to be extremely interesting and I highly recommend it for its historical value even if not for its application in today’s world. | |
One negative for this version (Wordsworth Reference [1993©]) is the translation seems to be quite literal from Italian and therefore the language is extremely flowery which makes for difficult reading, but otherwise, it’s a fast read and well worth reading and consideration among the other classics in politics. And, of course, this means you will now see Machiavellian quotes from time to time. | |
As mentioned above, I watched “The Caine Mutiny” on Saturday. I must admit, I’ve seen the movie several times in my lifetime, but I never remember much about it except the roles played by Humphrey Bogart and José Ferrer. Everyone else is good, too, but these two are great. If you liked the military courtroom drama of “A Few Good Men” or “The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell“, then I think you’ll like this movie too. This is a CLASSIC Bogart role and you can’t honestly say you are a Bogart fan unless you’ve watched this movie. Of course, Bogart’s testimony at the trial is what makes the movie. This is a must-see movie!! | |
The second movie I’m reviewing is the recently released “Iron Man 3“. In full disclosure mode, I must admit that I spent many hours of my childhood reading (and collecting) Marvel Comics, so of course I have a natural bias for ALL Marvel Comic movie adaptations. Having said that, this is a VERY good movie! It’s entertaining with a plot, comedy (slap-stick and quips), action (fights and explosions), excellent special effects and once again, Robert Downey, Jr. ROCKS as Tony Stark (the man inside the suit), particularly when he’s NOT inside the suit. | |
Was the movie accurate to the comics? No. Particularly as it relates to the Mandarin (who is Chinese in the comics but British in the movie). Does it matter? Nah. What did (slightly) miff me was that there were no power-rings. Instead there was a weak terrorist group called “The Ten Rings”. Really? Really? Nah, it didn’t work for me. Other than that, I thought this was a sound effort, particularly after the “relative” let down (well, I was very let down) of “Iron Man 2“. Again, is it great cinema: No. Is it an entertaining movie: heck YEAH! Final recommendation: Highly recommended! | |
I can’t wait for the DVD so I can have a marathon viewing! | |
Oh yeah, in the Disney “Small World” vein: José Ferrer was in “The Caine Mutiny” and his son (who is a virtual ringer), Miguel José Ferrer, is in “Iron Man 3“. Daddy was terrific. Son, less so. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2012 | God’s Requirements |
2011 | Greater Purity |