Machiavelli, from The Prince:
"Therefore a wise lord cannot, nor ought he to, keep faith when such observance may be turned against him, and when the reasons that caused him to pledge it exist no longer. If men were entirely good this precept would not hold, but because they are bad, and will not keep faith with you, you too are not bound to observe it with them . . . . he who has known best how to employ the fox has succeeded best.
But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic, and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived."
Piquant, isn't it?
Can't help but wonder if he who trusts too much is more to blame than the one who proves untrustworthy. Is it, after all, really that surprising? Can you blame a person for taking advantage when a target offers himself up like a John Littlewit at Bartholomew Fair?
(image: the dividing of territory in the opening scenes of Kurosawa's Ran)
No comments:
Post a Comment