Machiavelli and systems? LO12435

Davidwilk@aol.com
Fri, 7 Feb 1997 12:06:52 -0500 (EST)

Replying to LO12371 --

Stephen Wehrenberg stated

>I have looked high and low, and can't find this passage anywhere in my
>copies of The Prince. Also, I have a publication date in 1515, not 1513.
>Could Mr. Wong be citing a different writing by Uncle Niccolo? It sure
>SOUNDS like something he would say ... can anyone on the list help me
>clarify this?

The full quote is

"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more
doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a
new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by
the preservation of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in
those who would gain by the new ones."

I am 100% sure the quote is accurate and from Machiavelli and 90% sure it
comes from The Prince. No idea of a page number or other more detailed
reference

David Wilkinson
School Improvement Specialist
Des Moines Public Schools (IA)

[Host's Note: There must be translation step involved here... When did the
word "system" come into use? What would Machiavelli have meant when he
wrote the words which are translated to the above? I've heard the quote
with "...a new order of things" as others have said. ...Rick]

-- 

Davidwilk@aol.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>