A third difficulty
There is first to note that, whereas in other businesses the ambition of the customers and the insolence of the laborers only have to be contended with, the Roman captains of industry had a third difficulty in having to put up with the cruelty and avarice of their shareholders, a matter so beset with difficulties that it was the ruin of many; for it was a hard thing to give satisfaction both to shareholders and laborers; because the laborers loved peace, and for this reason they loved the unaspiring CEO, whilst the shareholders loved the warlike CEO who was bold, cruel, and rapacious, which qualities they were quite willing he should exercise upon the laborers, so that they could get double dividends and give vent to their greed and cruelty.
With sincere apology to Niccolò Machiavelli for misappropriating The Prince, Chapter 19
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