Chapter Five
ON THE TOPIC OF PUBLIC OPINION
For one to be considered a wise ruler, they must be adept at tempering the opinion of the public - for a hated man shall never lead, even when he is hated for falsehood - while a loved man will lead, even when he is loved for his lies. Thus, it is of absolute importance that one never, directly or indirectly, projects his person as one that is to be disliked by the public.
One such example of such can be found within the town of Bree; the mayor is a fool, and has failed to maintain a high opinion amongst the poorer majority within the town - and therefore, crime is plentiful and his word is oft ignored.
In order to maintain public opinion, there are several facts that must be understood: first, that all men and women deem a leader's actions how he wishes for them to deem it. The very idea that someone is good or bad is entirely conceptual - and therefore, one may project a concept of oneself, while maintaining a reality. Second, that fear is not literal, but instead figurative - fear must not be given in such a way, that it causes the very destruction of a population. It must, instead, be used with subtlety; a man will fear anything that he does not know, and thus you must remain unknown.
Only those that oppose you must be destroyed - for a man would not, lest he is a fool, allow a wolf to live, after it has already bitten him.
The third actuality that should be understood, is the non-existence of reason. The public shall act in accordance to what you project, not what you are, and a wise ruler should use this in order to prevent reason, and rationalisation. A population should be kept intelligent enough, so as to maintain some level of understanding, but they must never be graced with independent thought.
A wise ruler shall use others to complete that which would be unsafe for him; resulting in the destruction of he whom completes the act.
A prime example of this can be found in the histories of this world - for many a time, has a man committed the darkest of 'atrocities', as viewed by those around them, only to be removed by the one that he served. If such tools are used, a ruler shall be blessed: by the grace of his population, and by the completion of his act.
All men are fools - but, some fools are wiser than others.
And thus, in order to control the public, a ruler requires but three things: to be all-knowing, the prevention of free-thought, and a collection of pets to use for his means - for him to reach two ends.
I shall return to this topic within a later chapter; in regards to my previous statements, and those that would oppose them.
