it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. this coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them. 

niccoló machiavelli 

i remember first learning of machiavelli's the prince in high school from herr fritz reiner, a scary german uber-mensch type who thought he was a laff riot and a terror at once. i thought machiavelli was some kind of monster of power. herr reiner was also my driving instructor, and i was always holding back my pee when he yelled turn! turn! should i get out and dance a jig!? and herr reiner was one of the head moles in cave club, and he kept yelling in the tightly echoing passages, are you coming, or just breathing hard!? har-de-har-har. what a character, how i'd love to sit in the back row and heckle him now! oh boy, i'd like to honk his nose!  

all that to say i read the above quote in climate changers today and it makes perfect sense, without any teutonic pontificating or stiff butted jigs, herr reiner. and i got a copy of lulu's dad's new book, reading machiavelli, signed, for doug- a machiavellian democrat in the best sense of the term! so while herr reiner made me read cringingly and left me with only the memory residue of herr's tirades, i'm going read this machiavelli redeemed and re-dugsed.