Who wrote Everyone sees what you appear to be few know who you are and those few dare not oppose the opinion of the many?

Answer 1

Niccolo Machiavelli said this in his seminal work; The Prince. Is this statement true? For the most part it seems to be so. Very few dare declare the Emperor has no clothes, but the do exist. Of course, it is usually those in the forefront of revolutions and visible to all who usually get their heads lopped off first. Machiavelli's work, is a political manifesto on how to obtain and maintain political power. By the quotation mentioned it is somewhat evident that Machiavelli viewed most people as cowardly and timid. His views, while accepted by many as being true and correct, are flawed, mostly from his premise that the end justifies the means. It is not true that ends will justify means, and what is true that whatever the means to bring about the end, that end is a direct product of the means employed to bring about the end. In other words, we reap what we sow. Machiavelli argues we can reap untold fortune and admiration and political power through nefarious means. A cursory look at the world today might confirm his assertions but the current insanity of a people spinning out of control, becoming more and more polarized is evidence to the contrary.

Answer 2

It was written by Niccolò Machiavelli in his book "The Prince." This quote reflects Machiavelli's ideas on perception, power, and public opinion.