The Law of Outshining the Master

When it comes to power, outshining the master is perhaps the worst mistake of all. Those who attain high standing in life are like kings and queens: They want to feel secure in their positions. Galileo did not challenge the intellectual authority of the Medicis with his discovery; he made them shine brilliantly among the courts of Italy. You can inadvertently outshine a master simply by being yourself. If you cannot help being charming and superior, you must learn to avoid such monsters of vanity.