From news:comp.object:

"Uncle Bob (Robert C. Martin)" wrote:

''One criteria is that '''A''''s hire '''A''''s, and '''B''''s hire '''C''''s. Or to translate: An excellent performer will consistently hire performers who are as good or better than they are. A less than excellent performer will, on average, hire people who they can look better than.''

'''''A'''''ugustus Caesar would have hired probably the likes of Germanicus to succeed him, but his wife Livia plotted against them all until the only candidate left was Tiberius, a '''''B''''' choice. Then Ti'''''b'''''erius hired '''''C'''''aligula to make sure his own memory was treasured. -- PhlIp