Somalilandsun – Prof Abdisalam Yassin a Somaliland Scholar and prolific writer of traditional storyteller with moral tones, that are aimed at educating and entertaining the public renown to Somalilandsun readers through such series as “Without our Knowledge” is back on track after a short break and continues his “Another Tale” series with “History Gives Counsel (1)”
Another Tale: History Gives Counsel (1)
By: Abdisalam Yassin
In the coming tales, I will present to the reader the advice given by famous historical personalities about politics and government. The advice that these thinkers and sages give is in the form of quotes some of which have become proverbs in many languages.
Aesop said:
We condemn the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
After all is said and done; more is said than done.
The smaller the mind is the greater its conceit.
Please all and you will please none.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
Appearances are often deceiving.
A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other and we then know how to deal with him.
He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.
Persuasion is often more effective than force.
United we stand; divided we fall
Machiavelli said:
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
The first method of estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men around him.
A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that good men strive to imitate him, and bad men are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
Never was anything great achieved without danger.
There three kinds of intelligences: one kind understands things for itself, the second appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. The first kind is excellent, the second kind is good, and the third kind is useless.
A prince never lacks a legitimate reason to break his promise.
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
I am not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to change it.
Articles by the Same author
Somaliland: Another Tale: The Tail of the Fox
Somaliland: What does Britain want?
Somaliland; Compare Scotland to Somaliland!
Somaliland: Cows and Politics
Somaliland: Without our knowledge (1)
