The 48 Laws Of Power

thecharactershehad

created;

insteadof

conducting

affairswithfamous

men,

she

would

beginmeddling

in

politics,leading

demonstrations,

inspir-

ing

studentrebellions.Noonewoulddictatetoherthelimitsofthecharac-

tershehadcreated.

Long

aftershe

died,

andaftermost

people

had

stopped

reading

her

novels,

the

larger-than—lifetheatricality

ofthatcharacterhas

continuedtofascinateand

inspire.

Interpretation

Throughout

Sand’s

public

life,

acquaintances

andotherartistswho

spent

timeinher

company

hadthe

feeling

they

wereinthe

presence

ofaman.

Butinher

journals

andtoherclosest

friends,

suchasGustave

Flaubert,

she

confessed

thatshe

had

no

desireto

bea

man,

but

was

playing

a

part

for

publicconsumption.

Whatshe

really

wanted

was

the

power

to

determine

herowncharacter.Sherefusedthelimitsher

society

wouldhavesetonher.

Shedidnotattainher

power,

however,

bybeing

herself;

insteadshecre-

ateda

persona

thatshecould

constantlyadapt

toherown

desires,

a

per-

sona

that

attracted

attentionand

gave

her

presence.

Understandthis:Theworldwantsto

assignyou

a

roleinlife.And

once

youaccept

that

role

you

aredoomed.Your

power

islimitedtothe

tiny

amountallottedtotherole

you

haveselectedorhavebeenforcedto

assume.An

actor,

ontheother

hand,

playsmany

roles.

Enjoy

that

protean

power,

andifitis

beyondyou,

atleast

forge

anew

identity,

oneof

your

own

making,

onethathashadnoboundaries

assigned

toit

by

anenvious

andresentfulworld.ThisactofdefianceisPromethean:Itmakes

you

re»

sponsible

for

your

owncreation.

Yournew

identity

will

protect

you

fromtheworld

precisely

becauseit

isnot

“you”;

it

is

acostume

youput

on

andtake

off.You

neednottakeit

personally.

And

your

new

identity

sets

youapart,givesyou

theatrical

pres-

ence.Thoseinthebackrowscansee

you

andhear

you.

Thoseinthefront

rowsmarvelat

youraudacity.

Donot

people

talkin

societyof

aman

being

a

great

actor?

They

donotmean

by

thatthat

he/"eels,

butthatheexcelsin

simulating,thoughhefeelsnothing.

I)»m,i.r

I)iderot,

1713-1 784

KEYSTOPOWER

The
character
you

seemtohave

been

bornwithisnot

necessarily

who

you

are;

beyond

the characteristics

you

have

inherited,

your

parents,your

friends,

and

your peers

have

helped

to

shape your personality.

The

Prometheantaskofthe

powerful

istotakecontrolofthe

process,

to

stop

al-

lowing

others

that

ability

tolimit

andmoldthem.

Remake

yourself

intoa

characterof

power.Working

on

yourself

like

clay

shouldbe

one

of

your

greatest

andmost

pleasurable

lifetasks.Itmakes

you

inessenceana11ist—

anartist

creatingyourself.

In

fact,

theideaofself—creationcomesfromtheworldofart.Forthou-

LAW 25 195