"...one should bear in mind that there is nothing more difficult to execute, nor more dubious of success, nor more dangerous to administer than to introduce a new system of things: for he who introduces it has all those who profit from the old system as his enemies, and he has only lukewarm allies in all those who might profit from the new system. This lukewarmness partly stems from fear of their adversaries, who have the law on their side, and partly from the skepticism of men who do not truly believe in new things unless they have actually had personal experience of them. Therefore, it happens that whenever those who are enemies have the chance to attack, they do so in a partisan manner, and those others defend hesitantly ..."
- Niccolo Machiavelli

.... note whether these innovators act on their own or are dependent on
others: that is, if they are forced to beg or are able to use power in
conducting their affairs. In the first case, they always end up badly and
never accomplish anything; but when they lean on their own resources and
can use power, then only seldom do they find themselves in peril.