PART 1
Foundations

Chi non fa e' fondamenti prima, gli potrebbe con una grande virtú farli poi, ancora che si faccino con disagio dello architettore e periculo dello edifizio.

He who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building.¹

Niccoló Machiavelli, ll principe 1532.