The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to

In the great tapestry of governance and power, Niccolò Machiavelli, the Florentine thinker and advisor of princes, wrote words that have outlived empires: “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” These words, drawn from his immortal work The Prince, speak not merely of politics, but of the essence of wisdom and leadership itself. For a ruler, no matter how brilliant, is measured not by the crown upon his head, but by the counsel that surrounds him — the minds he chooses to hear, and the hearts he chooses to trust.

To the ancients, this truth was known as the law of reflection: that the leader’s greatness is reflected in his companions. Just as a clear spring reveals the purity of its source, so too do wise advisors reveal the character of the sovereign. A ruler who gathers sycophants reveals weakness, for he fears the truth. A ruler who gathers thinkers and challengers reveals strength, for he hungers for wisdom. The court, therefore, becomes the mirror of the mind — and the wise know that by looking at a ruler’s circle, one may discern the soul of his reign.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great. His empire stretched from Greece to India, not by strength of arms alone, but by the strength of the minds that guided him. Around him stood men like Aristotle, who had tutored him in philosophy and science; Hephaestion, his loyal friend and general; and Ptolemy, who would one day rule Egypt and preserve his master’s legacy. Alexander’s greatness did not spring from arrogance but from his willingness to listen, to learn, and to surround himself with men of intellect and vision. He knew that no ruler can see all things, and that wisdom grows in the company of the wise.

Contrast this with the fall of King Louis XVI of France, who, though born to rule, lacked the discernment to gather capable men around him. His court glittered with wealth but was hollow in wisdom. Flatterers and opportunists whispered what he wished to hear, while the people suffered and revolution brewed. When the storm came, there were no loyal or wise voices left to guide him. Thus, as Machiavelli warned, the quality of a ruler’s circle foretells the fate of his kingdom.

Machiavelli himself, exiled and misunderstood, learned this truth from the courts of Florence — where vanity, intrigue, and fear often drowned out reason. His quote was not a cynical jest, but a warning born of experience: that power corrupts most easily when it is isolated. The wise ruler, he taught, must not only seek intelligent advisors, but must also grant them the freedom to speak truth without fear. A ruler who silences counsel will one day be silenced by consequence.

The lesson extends far beyond kings and crowns. Every person, in their own small kingdom — whether a home, a business, or a circle of friends — is a ruler of sorts. And as Machiavelli said, your intelligence is revealed by those you choose to walk beside. Do you surround yourself with those who challenge you to grow, or with those who keep you comfortable in mediocrity? The company you keep is the mirror of your destiny.

Therefore, let this teaching be inscribed upon the heart: seek companions who are not afraid to question you, who sharpen your thought and strengthen your virtue. Do not fear those who disagree with you, for they are the guardians of your growth. As iron sharpens iron, so does the mind of one sharpen another. A fool seeks applause; a wise one seeks correction.

And so, remember, children of wisdom — whether you rule nations or your own soul — your greatness will not be measured by your power, but by your counsel. Choose well those who stand beside you, for they are the architects of your fate. A ruler may wear the crown, but it is the circle around the throne that determines whether that crown will shine in glory or fall in ruin.