Decay

I JUDGE IT TO BE TRUE THAT FORTUNE IS THE ARBITER OF ONE-HALF OF OUR ACTIONS, BUT THAT SHE STILL LEAVES US TO DIRECT THE OTHER HALF, OR PERHAPS A LITTLE LESS. I COMPARE HER TO ONE OF THOSE RAGING RIVERS WHICH, WHEN IN FLOOD, OVERFLOW THE PLAINS, TEAR DOWN TREES AND BUILDINGS, AND SWEEP AWAY SOIL FROM ONE PLACE TO DEPOSIT IT IN ANOTHER. EVERYONE FLEES BEFORE THEM, YIELDING TO THEIR FURY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO RESIST IN ANY WAY. YET, THOUGH THEIR NATURE IS SUCH, IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT MEN, WHEN THE WEATHER BECOMES FAIR AGAIN, CANNOT TAKE PRECAUTIONS, BY MEANS OF DYKES AND BANKS, TO DIRECT THEIR FORCE AND LESSEN THEIR IMPETUOSITY. SO IT IS WITH FORTUNE, WHICH SHOWS HER POWER WHERE NO ORGANIZED VIRTUE EXISTS TO RESIST HER, AND THITHER SHE TURNS HER FORCES WHERE SHE KNOWS THAT BARRIERS AND DEFENSES HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED TO CONSTRAIN HER.

– MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE