From Niccolo Machiavelli 1469-1527), Italian political philosopher, historian, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright, The Prince (1513):
There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, and the third is useless.
