"It is a common failing of man..." - Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli
It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.
More by Niccolo Machiavelli
“He who desires or attempts to reform the government of a state and wishes to have it accepted, must at least retain the semblance of the old forms; so that it may seem to the people that there has been no change in the institutions, even though in fact they are entirely different from the old ones. For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities.”
“Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.”
“War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.”
More on Foresight
“The greatest tragedy to befall a person is to have sight but lack vision.”
“Tomorrow always arrives. It is always different. And even the mightiest company is in trouble if it has not worked on the future. Being surprised by what happens is a risk that even the largest and richest company cannot afford, and even the smallest business need not run.”
“The worst thing in the world is not to be born blind, but to be born with sight, and yet have no vision.”