Thoughts after a mad weekend

I'm reading Machiavelli's The Prince. For the life of me, Jesuits didn't mark this as required reading in college.

Just a few points I'd like to cite from the few chapters I've read:

Chapter 2, Hereditary Principalities: I say, then, that hereditary states accustomed to the family of their ruler are more easily kept than new ones...if he is once deprived of it, however, he will nevetheless regain it at the slightest adversity that the conqueror encounters.

If unusual vices do not make him hated, it is reasonable to suppose that his subjects will feel a natural affection for him.- How true, especially for political dynasties. And I thought it was just as easily summed up by "Better to be ruled by a stupid San Juan actor than by an educated QC lawyer."

Chapter 5, How to Govern Cities and Principalities that, Prior to Being Occupied, Lived Under Their Own Laws: For in truth there is no sure method of holding such cities except by destruction. Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient insitutions. - This is what Marcos tried to do. This is what GMA is trying to do. And rebellion is what's happening.

Chapter 6, Concerning New Principalities Acquired by One's Own Arms and Ability: Those who become princes by virtue of their abilities, as these men did, acquire dominion with difficulty but maintain it with ease. The difficulties they ecnounter in winning their dominions arise in part from the new forms of administration and new methods which they are compelled to introduce in order to establish their state and assure their security. It must be realized that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more uncertain of success, or more dangerous to manage than the establishment of a new order of government; for he who introduces it makes enemies of all those who derived advantage from the old order and finds but lukewarm defenders among those who stand to gain from the new one. - There goes charter change.