[Wizard.]

Doing an essay on the 15th Century political thinker Machiavelli, you know, very academic, when I end up using an article which compares a treacherous 15th century Florence to the BB7 House

The term Machiavellian is not all bad. To have it applied to one implies a certain degree of intelligence. Anyone Machiavellian is a leader, one of those pulling the strings.

Another infamous question tackled by Machiavelli is whether it is better to be loved (Big Brother's Pete) or feared (Aisleyne). The philosopher argues in a straight choice it is better to be feared, but it is certainly bad to be loathed. But Machiavelli was speaking to a prince, who did not rely on the text message votes of his audience.

When the Medici were restored to power in Florence in 1512, Machiavelli was suspected of plotting, imprisoned and tortured. The timing of the writing of The Prince suggests it was an effort to get back in with the Medici and get some work. But the occupants of the Big Brother house would know all about sycophancy themselves.

[Ant.]

know yaself

[RichardG]