In time of trouble, men of talent are called for, but in times of ease the rich and those with powerful relatives are desired.

Related:

• All men can be lead to believe the lie they want to believe.
  Italo...
• Anyone can be great with money. With money, greatness is not a talent but an obligation.
  The trick is to be great without money. -- Italo...
• All men can be reached by flattery, even God can (what,
  after all, is prayer?). -- Italo...
• To live in a place where you don't belong is to live in hell.
  Italo...
• Ingratitude is the crack in the sewer that turns the sweet waters of life into a running shit pot.
  Italo...
• Never grow old where you once have been great. --
  Italo...
• The wise prince must foment some emnity so that by suppressing it he will augment his greatness.
  Italo...
• I am sick unto death of obscure english towns that exist seemingly for the sole accommodation of these so-called limerick writers-
  and even sicker of their residents, all of whom suffer...
• That's the trouble with this country. The whole place is filled with penniless patriots.
  Rosa...