“From the study of this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption; as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus. But so soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced.”
So wrote Niccolò Machiavelli in 1503. Spot on Niccers.
– SW
Picture – The Economist (16th July 2011)