“It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved.” – Niccolo Machiavelli
Every nation is in a struggle to find the ideal political leader. It is important, I’m quite sure that you’ll agree, that one must be able to handle power and utilize it at will if that one is to lead a country. Countless strategies have been executed in hopes of attaining ultimate political power to have the momentum fully in one’s favor. But what kind of steps shall we observe to establish a strong fortress of authority?
Allow me to discuss several points about this topic, one by one, because of the simple reason that I feel organized when I type out what I think this way.
1. Suppressing Crime and Rebellion
Let us start with one of the most common problems faced by our society; how to suppress crime and rebellion. Now, this might as well be quite a tiresome topic, but I believe this is still worth talking about. Well, how should we handle these things?
Well, probably the majority of the answers would be, to have them put to jail, let them repent for their sins, and eventually set them free when the government sees it fit. In other words, most people would say “give the sentenced a second chance.” Well, it does seem pretty agreeable; in fact, I’m somehow inclined to the idea, but somehow, there’s this darkness that shrouds the future as people continue to be lenient to those who committed crimes and ignore their possibly hidden intentions. While I’m not saying that being kind is bad (which is nonsensical), in a government guy’s point of view, is there really a guarantee that the rebels have really turned over a new leaf? Can we safely assume that the problem is finished? These doubts, these uncertainties probably are the reasons why some leaders of history preferred to be pragmatic, to be sure that they have provided a long-lasting, if not permanent, solution to their problems.
“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”
I’m pretty sure everyone’s adequately familiar with the pragmatic procedures demonstrated by the world’s leaders to preserve order in their territories. We have our local Ferdinand Marcos who announced the Martial Law, implementing curfews to reduce crime rates, which happens to increase the fastest during nighttime. Many of the modern world’s leaders have enforced lifetime imprisonment, and, in some cases, even death penalty. Guillotines are quite a trend during ancient times as well. While this may seem, as some would say, immoral, we can’t help but accept the fact that the unknown usually pulls us down to defeat, or even death. Another thing is that it tends to make our judgment dull and disconcert us in the most inconvenient times.
For one thing, these people probably have deduced that they can’t really be certain if there really is a ceasefire or not, whether the enemy really has surrendered. Yet they cannot risk national security for a moment’s mercy; hence, the stern and sometimes ruthless measures to preserve peace. We must admit that mankind as a whole isn’t exactly submissive, but rather inclined to being rebellious, which, in turn, threatens the harmony of society. With these methods, there is indeed a certainty of defeating a resistance, and at the same time, serves as a usually effective warning to those who are plotting to rebel against the government. We must accept this fact of life, that we must, at times, destroy our adversaries completely to secure victory.
In the world of politics, everything must be sure. Anything uncertain, in my opinion, is a big no-no, for it brings danger to administrative stability. This is why some leaders prefer to be cold and ruthless, for there is certainty in exchange. Now, I don’t blame the people who choose the morally righteous path, who wants a peaceful and bloodless rule, but I hate to tell you that nowadays, peace and absence of destruction don’t mix that well. One must face that, usually, to the point that it’s sometimes inevitable, something must be obliterated for the preservation of another.
2. Preserving a Reputation
An essential characteristic of a clever politician is his ability to lengthen, and strengthen his reign as much as he can. This is obviously important, for having a lengthy rule gives one ample time to fully execute his plans into action. One way to achieve this is, well, to keep a good image in front of the populace. So how should we do it?
Well, a typical answer would probably be “to always help those in need, no matter what, and be true to the people.” This is a pretty nice prospect, indeed, to be a truly nice guy in the public, always lending a hand to those who are suffering, and showing who you really are. But, that’s a well-emphasized “but” there, in politics, it’s not just about how good you are, but how smart you are as well. Yes, you can be as kind as you want, but you certainly can’t expect that others will be kind to you in return. You can’t please everybody. Envy might be triggered instead of compassion when one is subjected to intense generosity and popularity of others, and envy has a nasty habit of destroying one’s reputation.
This is why it is much more preferrable to be not so nice in politics. Letting emotions get the better of you can bring forth your downfall. In a battle of wits and power, you should put your head first; not your heart. This isn’t a battle of instincts, but logic. Being too kind and too honest creates a weak spot in you, and competitors will surely strike it. There will certainly be attempts to reveal the ghosts of your past, your past sins that may bring harm to your image. If even the most secretive figures of society get to have a share of controversy, what more will happen to those who literally expose their lives to the public?
“Law 20: Do Not Commit to Anyone”
This is one useful way to avoid public scandal which can weaken your influence. There are times that small promises can hinder a bigger and better plan, which prevents progress. This is why you shouldn’t be making too many promises, for there might be more necessary procedures that require the cancellation of these deals. Cancelling them might mean blackmails and uproars; ignoring the bigger plan is, well, plainly bad. Long story short, a double-edged sword! It’s not bad to transact with others in politics; a politician needs allies; but you must not be so attached to them to the point that your life depends on them. There will be a time that some of your allies intentionally won’t be there to catch you. A leader must do what he can to appease the public, but he must be cautious when it comes to giving promises to people that are highly unlikely to be fulfilled.
“Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean”
This is another principle to be observed to preserve your reputation; to take no blame for the wrongdoings in the country as much as possible. I know that this severely transgresses the virtue of honesty, but it is a necessity at times to appear clean, even though you aren’t. It is inevitable that man makes mistakes, but mistakes are a no-no in politics, and one cannot afford to withstand the judgmental eyes of the populace after making a wrong step, especially when he has a good number of brilliant plans in his mind. People as a whole do not really investigate things; they just rely on what is heard and seen. This is why some officials tend to conceal their faults to avoid further controversies that will hurt their reputation and to deprive their enemies of the chance to fabricate lies to bring them down more, to the point of having someone blackmailed or assassinated if he proves to be a vital witness of their shortcomings. Evil, but the lesser of the two evils, the other the destruction of great political figures.
3. Preventing Troubles Within the Government
A serious thing that a political leader must deal with is how he will maintain order within his administration and how he’ll give himself a 99% guarantee that nothing suspicious is being done under his nose. This probably is the most complex mission to accomplish, for one must be clever enough to see through countless deceptions that inhabit the foundations of the government. A ruined reputation is curable, but a fallen government isn’t.
“Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies”
Sometimes, we tend to put too much confidence in people we call our friends, to the point that we are totally unmindful of the possible things that are currently in our friend’s mind. In an ordinary life, friends are almost completely harmless, but when it comes to politics, there is a thin line between friends and traitors. A politician must be vigilant in relating with his fellow politicians, so as not be susceptible to treachery. In fact, it is quite preferrable to be an individualist than to rely to others for advice and strategies, for this will prevent you from being misled. Although you’ll need others’ opinion for optimum results, and establish good relationships with them as well, you must not be emotionally attached to them, but still be independent.
Also, you should be meticulous in choosing your associates, and distinguishing your enemies. For one thing, the ones whom you call buddies might be your greatest adversary, while the ones you abhor might be friends in disguise trying to guide you in the right path. Politics and deception are blood-related; avoid being deceived by what is visible as much as possible.
“Law 19: Know Who You’re Dealing With – Do Not Offend The Wrong Person”
While this one and the previously mentioned law are closely related, this time, I must delve into how a political leader communicates with his subordinates or his equals. There might be instances when politicians tend to belittle others, thinking they are inferiors, probably because they think they’re better in terms of administration. This is wrong; by deliberately antagonizing other people, especially if they are big figures in society, one weakens his influence, which is a vital element of politics. Also, one can’t really be sure if the one he’s calling incompetent is really incompetent. One wrong word or action might mean instant destruction; battles within the government are silent and ruthless. This is why it is important not to involve your ego in your job, for this weakens your judgment and disrupts your concentration. If one desires power, he must be careful on who he is dealing with, for this might be a great source of political power, and a source of great danger if mishandled.
And so, I shall end this blog entry of mine with a few sentences; a great deal of what most of us consider as morality must be sacrificed to achieve ultimate power in society. Let’s face it; power built from what the heart dictates tend to be shaky, full of uncertainties and entices abusive intentions, while the administration that is near-indestructible and long-lasting requires deception and at several points, ruthlessness to fend off possible threats immediately, and, if it can be helped, permanently. This might as well be the reason why I was never a fan of gaining political power, but preferred to explore the intricate, yet beautiful world of pure and applied science.
“Men have imagined republics and principalities that never really existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.” – Niccolo Machiavelli
P.S: Many thanks to Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power, which is in my possession for a couple of years. In here I found these laws that are really suitable to be included and discussed in this particular topic. Also, a million thanks to my father, who gave me this particular book in the first place.
Every nation is in a struggle to find the ideal political leader. It is important, I’m quite sure that you’ll agree, that one must be able to handle power and utilize it at will if that one is to lead a country. Countless strategies have been executed in hopes of attaining ultimate political power to have the momentum fully in one’s favor. But what kind of steps shall we observe to establish a strong fortress of authority?
Allow me to discuss several points about this topic, one by one, because of the simple reason that I feel organized when I type out what I think this way.
1. Suppressing Crime and Rebellion
Let us start with one of the most common problems faced by our society; how to suppress crime and rebellion. Now, this might as well be quite a tiresome topic, but I believe this is still worth talking about. Well, how should we handle these things?
Well, probably the majority of the answers would be, to have them put to jail, let them repent for their sins, and eventually set them free when the government sees it fit. In other words, most people would say “give the sentenced a second chance.” Well, it does seem pretty agreeable; in fact, I’m somehow inclined to the idea, but somehow, there’s this darkness that shrouds the future as people continue to be lenient to those who committed crimes and ignore their possibly hidden intentions. While I’m not saying that being kind is bad (which is nonsensical), in a government guy’s point of view, is there really a guarantee that the rebels have really turned over a new leaf? Can we safely assume that the problem is finished? These doubts, these uncertainties probably are the reasons why some leaders of history preferred to be pragmatic, to be sure that they have provided a long-lasting, if not permanent, solution to their problems.
“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”
I’m pretty sure everyone’s adequately familiar with the pragmatic procedures demonstrated by the world’s leaders to preserve order in their territories. We have our local Ferdinand Marcos who announced the Martial Law, implementing curfews to reduce crime rates, which happens to increase the fastest during nighttime. Many of the modern world’s leaders have enforced lifetime imprisonment, and, in some cases, even death penalty. Guillotines are quite a trend during ancient times as well. While this may seem, as some would say, immoral, we can’t help but accept the fact that the unknown usually pulls us down to defeat, or even death. Another thing is that it tends to make our judgment dull and disconcert us in the most inconvenient times.
For one thing, these people probably have deduced that they can’t really be certain if there really is a ceasefire or not, whether the enemy really has surrendered. Yet they cannot risk national security for a moment’s mercy; hence, the stern and sometimes ruthless measures to preserve peace. We must admit that mankind as a whole isn’t exactly submissive, but rather inclined to being rebellious, which, in turn, threatens the harmony of society. With these methods, there is indeed a certainty of defeating a resistance, and at the same time, serves as a usually effective warning to those who are plotting to rebel against the government. We must accept this fact of life, that we must, at times, destroy our adversaries completely to secure victory.
In the world of politics, everything must be sure. Anything uncertain, in my opinion, is a big no-no, for it brings danger to administrative stability. This is why some leaders prefer to be cold and ruthless, for there is certainty in exchange. Now, I don’t blame the people who choose the morally righteous path, who wants a peaceful and bloodless rule, but I hate to tell you that nowadays, peace and absence of destruction don’t mix that well. One must face that, usually, to the point that it’s sometimes inevitable, something must be obliterated for the preservation of another.
2. Preserving a Reputation
An essential characteristic of a clever politician is his ability to lengthen, and strengthen his reign as much as he can. This is obviously important, for having a lengthy rule gives one ample time to fully execute his plans into action. One way to achieve this is, well, to keep a good image in front of the populace. So how should we do it?
Well, a typical answer would probably be “to always help those in need, no matter what, and be true to the people.” This is a pretty nice prospect, indeed, to be a truly nice guy in the public, always lending a hand to those who are suffering, and showing who you really are. But, that’s a well-emphasized “but” there, in politics, it’s not just about how good you are, but how smart you are as well. Yes, you can be as kind as you want, but you certainly can’t expect that others will be kind to you in return. You can’t please everybody. Envy might be triggered instead of compassion when one is subjected to intense generosity and popularity of others, and envy has a nasty habit of destroying one’s reputation.
This is why it is much more preferrable to be not so nice in politics. Letting emotions get the better of you can bring forth your downfall. In a battle of wits and power, you should put your head first; not your heart. This isn’t a battle of instincts, but logic. Being too kind and too honest creates a weak spot in you, and competitors will surely strike it. There will certainly be attempts to reveal the ghosts of your past, your past sins that may bring harm to your image. If even the most secretive figures of society get to have a share of controversy, what more will happen to those who literally expose their lives to the public?
“Law 20: Do Not Commit to Anyone”
This is one useful way to avoid public scandal which can weaken your influence. There are times that small promises can hinder a bigger and better plan, which prevents progress. This is why you shouldn’t be making too many promises, for there might be more necessary procedures that require the cancellation of these deals. Cancelling them might mean blackmails and uproars; ignoring the bigger plan is, well, plainly bad. Long story short, a double-edged sword! It’s not bad to transact with others in politics; a politician needs allies; but you must not be so attached to them to the point that your life depends on them. There will be a time that some of your allies intentionally won’t be there to catch you. A leader must do what he can to appease the public, but he must be cautious when it comes to giving promises to people that are highly unlikely to be fulfilled.
“Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean”
This is another principle to be observed to preserve your reputation; to take no blame for the wrongdoings in the country as much as possible. I know that this severely transgresses the virtue of honesty, but it is a necessity at times to appear clean, even though you aren’t. It is inevitable that man makes mistakes, but mistakes are a no-no in politics, and one cannot afford to withstand the judgmental eyes of the populace after making a wrong step, especially when he has a good number of brilliant plans in his mind. People as a whole do not really investigate things; they just rely on what is heard and seen. This is why some officials tend to conceal their faults to avoid further controversies that will hurt their reputation and to deprive their enemies of the chance to fabricate lies to bring them down more, to the point of having someone blackmailed or assassinated if he proves to be a vital witness of their shortcomings. Evil, but the lesser of the two evils, the other the destruction of great political figures.
3. Preventing Troubles Within the Government
A serious thing that a political leader must deal with is how he will maintain order within his administration and how he’ll give himself a 99% guarantee that nothing suspicious is being done under his nose. This probably is the most complex mission to accomplish, for one must be clever enough to see through countless deceptions that inhabit the foundations of the government. A ruined reputation is curable, but a fallen government isn’t.
“Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies”
Sometimes, we tend to put too much confidence in people we call our friends, to the point that we are totally unmindful of the possible things that are currently in our friend’s mind. In an ordinary life, friends are almost completely harmless, but when it comes to politics, there is a thin line between friends and traitors. A politician must be vigilant in relating with his fellow politicians, so as not be susceptible to treachery. In fact, it is quite preferrable to be an individualist than to rely to others for advice and strategies, for this will prevent you from being misled. Although you’ll need others’ opinion for optimum results, and establish good relationships with them as well, you must not be emotionally attached to them, but still be independent.
Also, you should be meticulous in choosing your associates, and distinguishing your enemies. For one thing, the ones whom you call buddies might be your greatest adversary, while the ones you abhor might be friends in disguise trying to guide you in the right path. Politics and deception are blood-related; avoid being deceived by what is visible as much as possible.
“Law 19: Know Who You’re Dealing With – Do Not Offend The Wrong Person”
While this one and the previously mentioned law are closely related, this time, I must delve into how a political leader communicates with his subordinates or his equals. There might be instances when politicians tend to belittle others, thinking they are inferiors, probably because they think they’re better in terms of administration. This is wrong; by deliberately antagonizing other people, especially if they are big figures in society, one weakens his influence, which is a vital element of politics. Also, one can’t really be sure if the one he’s calling incompetent is really incompetent. One wrong word or action might mean instant destruction; battles within the government are silent and ruthless. This is why it is important not to involve your ego in your job, for this weakens your judgment and disrupts your concentration. If one desires power, he must be careful on who he is dealing with, for this might be a great source of political power, and a source of great danger if mishandled.
And so, I shall end this blog entry of mine with a few sentences; a great deal of what most of us consider as morality must be sacrificed to achieve ultimate power in society. Let’s face it; power built from what the heart dictates tend to be shaky, full of uncertainties and entices abusive intentions, while the administration that is near-indestructible and long-lasting requires deception and at several points, ruthlessness to fend off possible threats immediately, and, if it can be helped, permanently. This might as well be the reason why I was never a fan of gaining political power, but preferred to explore the intricate, yet beautiful world of pure and applied science.
“Men have imagined republics and principalities that never really existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.” – Niccolo Machiavelli
P.S: Many thanks to Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power, which is in my possession for a couple of years. In here I found these laws that are really suitable to be included and discussed in this particular topic. Also, a million thanks to my father, who gave me this particular book in the first place.
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