Machiavelli: The Prince

I don't like Machiavelli. He's a despot and that bothers me. I'm not a despot; if I was my opinion about him might be different. There was one quoteation that I'd like to share with you.

"Therefore a wise prince ought to hold a third course by choosing the wise men in his state, and giving to them only the liberty of speaking the truth to him, and then only of those things of which he inquires, and of none others; but he ought to question them upon everything, and listen to their opinions, and afterwards form his own conclusions. With these councillors, separately and collectively, he ought to carry himself in such a way that each of them should know that, the more freely he shall speak, the more he shall be preferred; outside of these, he should listen to no one, pursue the thing resolved on, and be steadfast in his resolutions. He who does otherwise is either overthrown by flatterers, or is so often changed by varying opinions that he falls into contempt."

Listen to those you trust; think on your own; come to your own conclusions.