Book: 33 strategies of war

To recognize these powerful foes by their past can: find out if there was any in this past lightning-quick seizure of power, the sudden smile of fortune had not happened to them before to bring. Suspecting that you are dealing with a Napoleon, do not fold your arms and lay your cares on him for someone else. You - the last line of your own defense.

Thanks foe we unwittingly maintain common sense and moderation.

Xenophon tried to be fair. He did not say that the Persians actually not so bad, didn't mention their role in the progress of mankind. No, he called them barbarians, opposed the Greeks. He denounced their treacherous betrayal, and called their country supporting the evil and displeasing to the gods. Take note: your goal is victory, not justice and fairness.

If you are attacked - it means you it significant enough to become a target. Rejoice in the attention and opportunity to Express themselves.

A strong contender allows you to manifest your best qualities. And the stronger the opponent, the greater your reward, even in case of defeat.

The presence of enemies brings a lot of benefits. For example, they inspire us and are forced to articulate what we believe. The artist Salvador Dali soon realized that there are a lot of qualities that he abhors in others: conformity, romanticism, piety feigned. At each stage of his life he found people who he thought represented antiidle, enemies, against which it was worth fighting for. The first was the poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who wrote romantic poems; the next was Andre Breton, a harsh leader of the Surrealists. The presence of such enemies, against whom he rebelled, inspired by Dali, helped him to gain confidence.

Say or do something that could be interpreted in different ways, which can seem quite gentle, and may hint at a light coldness, or even to be perceived as an insult. Friend will be surprised, but will not attach much importance. The secret foe is likely to be furious. Any burst of emotion will give you to understand that rages in the depths of the quiet pool.

Sometimes indifference and inaction serve as a more effective weapon than aggression, since you can't distinguish between hostility that lies behind them

Even after coming to power, Margaret Thatcher remained an outsider: a woman, a representative of the middle class, and even with the radical far-right views. The first instinctive movement of any outsider who have achieved power - to gain recognition, to become his. It makes life easier, but they risk losing their individuality, difference from others - that stands out in public opinion. Thatcher start to imitate the surrounding men at the first opportunity it would simply be replaced by another, exactly the same politician. Instinct told her another solution: to maintain their dissent, to be "alien". In fact, she stood still and far advanced in the role of underdog, playing the card of the one woman who opposes the army men.

Internal discipline and composure - only this will allow you to gather and not to lose the ability to sober reason.

Constantly adhering to the line of least resistance, primiraly solutions, you risk to forget about its originality and eventually lost among the other dull, average people. Instead, look at yourself as a warrior, an outsider surrounded by the enemy.

You are facing obstacles - no rivers, no mountains, and not other people, these obstacles yourself.