The 48 Laws Of Power

Cesarewasas

good

asdead.Hehadmadefartoo

many

enemiesoverthe

years,

andwasnowwithouthisfather’s

protection.

Incaseswhen

youmay

need

protection,

then,

itisofienwisetoentwine

yourself

aroundseveral

sourcesof
power.

Suchamovewouldbe

especiallyprudent

in

periods

of

great

tumultandviolent

change,

orwhen

your

enemiesarenumerous.The

more
patrons

andmasters

you

servethelessrisk

you

run

if

oneofthem

fallsfrom
power.

Such

dispersion

will

evenallow

you

to

play

one

off

against

theother.Evenif

you

concentrateonthe

single

sourceof

power,

you

still

must

practice

caution,

and

1 cepare

forthe

day

when

your

master

or
patron

isno

longer

thereto

helpyou.

Finally,being

too

singlerminded

in

purpose

canmake

you

anintolera~

ble
bore,

especially

inthearts.TheRenaissance

painter

PaoloUccellowas

soobsessedwith

perspective

thathis

paintings

looklifelessandcontrived.

WhereasLeonardodaVinciinterestedhimselfin

everything«-architec-

ture,

painting,

warfare,

sculpture,

mechanics.Diffusion

was

thesource

of

his
power.

Butsuch

genius

is

rare,

andtherestofusare

betteroff

erring

on

thesideof

intensity.

LAW 23 1??’