Machiavelli (c. 1469-1527)
“There are three different kinds of brains, the one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others. The first kind is most excellent, the second also excellent, but the third useless.”
- From The Prince (chapter 22) by Machiavelli, translated and printed by the Henry Regnery Company, 1948.