Quote of the day - Will Durant; Lorenzo De Medici; Florence

The merchants preferred economic prosperity to political freedom; the proleteriat was kept busy with extensive public works, and forgave dictatorship so long as Lorenzo [De Medici] supplied it with bread and games.  Tournaments allured the rich, horse races thrilled the bourgeoisie, and pageants amused the populace.

Will Durant, The Renaissance, p. 117 (writing of Florence circa 1480-1490).