The Game of Power

The court imagined itself the pinnacle of refinement, but underneath its glittering surface was a caldron of dark emotions. The game is the same: Outwardly you must seem to respect the niceties; inwardly, unless you are a fool, you learn quickly to be prudent. If like the courtier of times gone by, you can master the arts of indirection, learning to seduce, charm, deceive and subtly outmanoeuvre your opponents, you will attain the heights of power. And if they do not realize what you have done, they will neither resent nor resist you.