“Men change their rulers willingly, hoping to better themselves.”Niccolò Machiavelli · Principele · 1532 · capitolul III
The hope for improvement makes people change rulers, even though the new regime may be just as bad.
Machiavelli points to a basic human tendency: discontent with the present fuels the illusion that any change brings gain. This hope is often naive, because the new master can be just as harsh or even worse. A classic example is a people who support a coup believing it will end poverty, only to find the new dictator plunders them even more.
Why it matters Today this insight helps you stay skeptical of political promises and judge a new leader by deeds, not hopes. It is also useful in your career when you leave a difficult boss for another you know nothing about.