Flattery More Harmful Than Hatred Enemies are of more use to the wise man than friends are to the fool. Ill will usually levels mountains of difficulty which goodwill would balk at tackling. The greatness of many has been fashioned thanks to malicious enemies. Flattery is more harmful than hatred, for the latter is anContinue reading “RKS Literature: How to Use Your Enemies : Flattery More Harmful Than Hatred (Baltasar Gracián)”
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RKS Literature: “How to Use Your Enemies”: Vary Your Procedure (Baltasar Gracián)
Vary Your Procedure Not always the same way, so as to confound those observing you, especially if they are rivals. Don’t always fulfil your declared intentions, for others will seize on your predictability, anticipating and frustrating your actions. It’s easy to kill a bird that flies straight, but not one that twists and turns. ButContinue reading “RKS Literature: “How to Use Your Enemies”: Vary Your Procedure (Baltasar Gracián)”
RKS Literature: How to Use Your Enemies: Avoid Outdoing Your Superior (Baltasar Gracián)
Avoid Outdoing Your Superior All triumphs are despised, and triumphing over your superior is either stupid or fatal. Superiority has always been detested, especially by our superiors. Princes like to be helped but not surpassed. Advice should be offered as if a reminder of what they’ve forgotten, not an insight what they’ve never had. BaltasarContinue reading “RKS Literature: How to Use Your Enemies: Avoid Outdoing Your Superior (Baltasar Gracián)”
RKS Literature: “How to Use Your Enemies” (Baltasar Gracián): In Your Affairs Create Suspense
“In Your Affairs Create Suspense It is neither useful nor pleasurable to show all your cards. Not immediately revealing everything fuels anticipation, especially when a person’s elevated position means expectations are greater. It bespeaks mystery in everything and, with this very secrecy, arouses awe. Even when explaining yourself, you should avoid complete frankness, just asContinue reading “RKS Literature: “How to Use Your Enemies” (Baltasar Gracián): In Your Affairs Create Suspense”
RKS Literature: The Final Words of Frankenstein’s Creation (Mary Shelley)
“But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless; I have strangled the innocent as they slept and grasped to death his throat who never injured me or any other living thing. I have devoted my creator, the select specimen of all that is worthy of loveContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Final Words of Frankenstein’s Creation (Mary Shelley)”
RKS Literature: Frankenstein Must Destroy the Creature He Created (Mary Shelley)
“I am, the soothing voice of my Elizabeth and the conversation with Clerval will be forever whispered in my ear. They are dead, and but one feeling in such solitude can persuade me to preserve my life. If I were engaged to any high undertaking or design, fraught with extensive utility to my fellow creatures,Continue reading “RKS Literature: Frankenstein Must Destroy the Creature He Created (Mary Shelley)”
RKS Literature: Why is Frankenstein’s Creation so Malicious? (Mary Shelley)
“I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me. You would not call it murder if you could precipitate me into one ofContinue reading “RKS Literature: Why is Frankenstein’s Creation so Malicious? (Mary Shelley)”
RKS Literature: How Can Frankenstein’s Creation Cease His Threats to Humanity?
“For some days I haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place, sometimes wishing to see you, sometimes resolved to quit this world and its miseries forever. At length I wandered through these mountains, and have ranged through their immense recesses, consumed by a burning passion which you alone can gratify. We may notContinue reading “RKS Literature: How Can Frankenstein’s Creation Cease His Threats to Humanity?”
RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Declares War on Humanity (Mary Shelley)
“I became fatigued with excess of bodily exertion and sank on the grass in the sick impotence of despair. There was none amongst the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards my enemies? No; from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, andContinue reading “RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Declares War on Humanity (Mary Shelley)”
RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Wretched, Miserable and Alone (Mary Shelley)
“Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different than mine in every other respect. He had come forward from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converseContinue reading “RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Wretched, Miserable and Alone (Mary Shelley)”
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