The 48 Laws Of Power

lit,

giving

the

impression

of

thetorchesof

a

vast

armyheadingup

the

mountain.Whentheflamesburneddowntotheoxen’s

skin,they

stam-

peded

inall

directions,

bellowing

likemadand

setting

firesalloverthe

mountainside.The

key

tothisdevice’ssuccesswasnotthe

torches,

the

fires,

orthenoisesin

themselves,

however,

butthefactthatHannibalhad

created

a

puzzle

that

captivated

thesentries’attentionand

gradually

terri-

fiedthem.Fromthe

mountaintop

therewasno

way

to

explain

thisbizarre

sight.

Ifthesentriescouldhave

explained

it

they

wouldhave

stayed

attheir

posts.

If

you

find

yourselftrapped,

cornered,

andonthedefensivein

some

situation,

try

a

simpleexperiment:

Do

something

thatcannotbe

easily

ex-

plained

or

interpreted.

Choosea

simple

action,

but

carry

itoutina

way

thatunsettles

youropponent,

a

way

with

manypossibleinterpretations,

making

your

intentionsobscure.Don’t

just

be

unpredictable

(although

this

tactictoocanbesuccessful—seeLaw

17);

like

Hannibal,

createascene

that

cannot

beread.Therewill

seemto

be

nomethodto

your

madness,

no

rhyme

or

reason,

no

singleexplanation.

If

you

dothis

right,you

willin-

spire

fearand

trembling

andthesentrieswillabandontheir

posts.

Callit

the

“feigned

madnessofHamlet”

tactic,

forHamletusesitto

great

effectin

Shakespeare‘splay,frightening

his

stepfather

Claudius

through

the

mys-

tery

of

his

behavior.The

mysterious

makes

your

forces

seem

larger,your

power

more

terrifying.

Image:

TheDanceof

the \/'cils~-—-thcz veils

envelop

the dancer.

What

they

reveal

causes excitement,

What

they

conceal

heightens

interest.The

essence of

mystery.

Authority:

If

you

do

not

declare

yourselfimmediately,you

arouse

expectation.

...Mixalittle

mystery

with

everything,

andthe

very

mystery

stirs

up

veneration.Andwhen

youexplain,

benottooex-

plicit.

.. .Inthismanner

you

imitatetheDivine

way

when

you

causementowonderandwatch.

(BaltasarGracian,

1601-1658)

.9‘) LAW 6