Machiavelli in his Art of War changed the way Europe fought wars. He taught politics, psychology and deception. And injecting his pessimistic view of human nature into his ideal of a perfect commander, he blurred the line that separates friends from enemies.

"But he recognizes that at best a civil society and an army are complex mixtures of friends and foes, individuals and groups contending for different interests; they are certainly never totality of friends completely united in pursuing a common good. Within the group immediately supporting the political leader, the friendship of some is usually more apparent than real. The allegiance of the "friend" may be only temporary, ready to be transferred to someone else when advantage is to be gained. Even the most intimate of friends may, without warning, prove unfaithful in an hour of need, because the strongest self-discipline implanted by convention under certain circumstances is not enough to prevent the outburst of the self-seeking ego. Friendship, Machiavelli seems to imply, is not so much the precious union of hearts so dear to the classical theorists, as it is a tenuous, external bond of self-interest. By the very fact of their egoistic natures men are forever isolated and alone, whether they are friends or foes. With Machiavelli the classical distinction between friend and foe is blurred. Since every friend is a potential foe, there is considerably less reluctance to employ deception and violence in dealing with a fellow-citizen."

I laughed when I read the paragraph. He is brilliant, just absolutely brilliant. I have always equated the word Machiavellian with consequentialism. But I have never explored the idea in its extremes. The impications can be truly disturbing. Most governments I believed, practise deception, in both internal affairs and diplomacy. Our government has deceived the people more than once; if you look, you will see.

At least now we know why some people called him the son of the devil.

I have always found it strange when my friend told me that we should not trust anyone completely, even if they are your parents, so she trusts her teddy bears and her diary. And one will notice in the preceding posts, my emphasis on appearance, illusion and manipulation. I have chanted to friends that we are in the age of advertisements and marketing, where we sell ourselves off as a brand, as a product, as a label, and quality does not matter, for no one really bothers to check, till they bought the products.

But I wonder how does all these apply to some of us, some of us whom what we need cannot be found in others, whom what we want to know, few can provide , and we know little as to what else to do, but to trust our heart and the ones we love. Or maybe those of us who love the truth much and respect honesty equally so that much deception is unacceptable, or those of us who place comfort above all else, having little fear in our lives, always on our faces, wearing our irrepressible joys and pains with pride.

Fear is a futile attempt to prevent the million undesirable possibilities that can happen, but may not happen. It is also the same futile attempt to prevent the other ten million undesirable possibilities that you are unaware of. Fear is never rational and pain will only be delayed never prevented. Paranoia and suspicion may only postpone the hurt, only to let it return in redoubled fury.

Fear paralyzes, only courage can allow room for wisdom.