Wednesday, January 13, 2010

On lions and ambassadors


Five hundred years ago, Niccolò Machiavelli wrote an advice to princes, which is quite good also to deputy foreign ministers: If you don't want to fight the lion, better not wake him. If you don't want to fight the Turks, better not insult their ambassador, be forced to apologize, and in total make yourself look ridiculous twice within twenty-four hours.