The most famous iteration of this sentiment comes from a letter Oxenstierna wrote to his son in . His son, Johan, was a delegate during the negotiations for the Peace of Westphalia and expressed anxiety about his ability to negotiate alongside seasoned, eminent diplomats. Oxenstierna reassured him with the Latin phrase: "An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?"
: Niccolo Machiavelli famously argued in The Prince that the world is ruled by power and the calculated use of any means—including cruelty or deception—to maintain that power. This is how the world is ruled
This quote is often used to highlight the idea that global affairs are frequently handled by fallible individuals making decisions with limited foresight or competence, rather than by a master plan of genius. Other Notable Perspectives The most famous iteration of this sentiment comes
: Marcus Aurelius taught that while we cannot control how the "world" at large is ruled, we rule our own "internal world" through our perceptions and reactions. This quote is often used to highlight the