Strategy: Observe, Wait and Strike

“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” - Niccolò Machiavelli

The best politicians, and the best technocrats, are never loved. Ever. They may solve a country's problems, they may fill the state's coffers, they may foster human development and serve their country the best they can...and still, they will not be loved. The more honest a politician is, the more he will be trashed by the opposition and labelled as a monster, a fascist, just because he is doing what they claim to intend to do but alas never do.

A politician doesn't need to do anything evil in particular to be feared. In this day and age, one can be feared just by saying the truth, just by rejecting PC, just by bringing diplomacy down a notch. Diplomatic haughtiness, bordering ambiguity and hypocrisy, has also contributed to the present state of chaos we are living in – and I admittedly have mixed feelings upon this, as I am not sure whether to rejoice (as the new crisis presents a huge opportunity) or to howl (at how low mankind has come).

Russians say it is better to be feared than to be respected. When you seek other people's love or respect, you sacrifice your dignity. It is better to earn people's love and respect by staying true to yourself, by fulfilling your promises (to the best of your abilities and circumstances) and by being honest to those who put you in power. Respect the electorate and you shall be respected and loved.

But how about fear: can you be loved, respected and feared at the same time? You can. Individuals who are true to themselves, who do not sacrifice their dignity, their integrity; folks who say what they mean and mean what they say - in a language that even a four year old can grasp what is meant – and understand that silence is gold, they will be loved, respected by the people and feared by their enemies (for they will never know what his next step will be).


“If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not to be feared.” - idem

A sense of pity exists for all those who persecute people just because of whom they are, of what they represent. If one is going to do it, then he should be sure that he knows his target well enough to ensure that retaliation will not come his way. There's something funny about injury: the level of severity is in the eyes of the beholder. Arrogance, vanity and stupidity are three evils that get in the way of any plan for if the target is wise enough he will play injured, if not dead, until he rises from the ashes and comes after his persecutors.

“Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.” - idem

Most do not understand the Art of Living in the Slow Lane. Deception is imperative when you are in the shadows, when you want to observe others and build a strategy to strike. Humans are reactive, and as such they will act upon what they see and not what their instinct is saying (many of them hear that inner voice dissuading them from acting against X or Y person, but Vanity and a false sense of power compels them to act foolishly without foreseeing the final outcome).


“No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.” - Niccolò Machiavelli  

Like a Feline on a Tree, many watch and wait until it's ripe to strike.

(Image: Leopard on a Tree - Google Images)

[The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dissecting Society]