Action Over Rhetoric: Control People Through Deeds, Not Debates
While words can inspire, it is often the actions that people take that lead to real change and leave a lasting legacy.
Scrolls of the Dark Arts for Scholars
The Dark Arts have been practiced since antiquity. Achieving Dark Arts mastery requires studying the manuals of the Dark Arts and internalizing their lessons.
Dark Arts Instruction Manuals include the following classics:
One: The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli. Amoral statecraft.
Two: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, Statecraft and Organized Violence.
Three: The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene
This is part of a series on The 48 Laws of Power. It provides a summary and real-life historical examples of other Dark Arts masters who applied its principles.
LAW 9: WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT
Any momentary triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.
The principle "Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument" instructs that convincing people through your actions and deeds is far more effective than through verbal argument. Actions have the power to speak more directly to people’s emotions and can be a testament to one’s character and abilities, whereas arguments, no matter how logical, can often be met with skepticism or opposition and can generate resentment.
When there is a need to establish direct unassailable power, particularly over others, actions have far more power than words. Actions are concrete and leave little room for doubt, whereas words can be interpreted in various ways.
Arguments, especially those won in a forceful way, can create a sense of defeat and bitterness in the opposing party. By showing your capabilities through actions, you allow others to come to their conclusions, which is often more persuasive. However, if compliance is essential forceful actions can compel compliance better than words which can be interpreted as bluster and bluff.
In the business world, for example, a leader might demonstrate the success of a new strategy by implementing it and showing the results rather than trying to convince the board through argument alone.
In personal relationships, actions such as consistently showing strength or reliability can build trust more effectively than promises or declarations.
Winning through actions is most effective when they involve deceitful or harmful behavior trampling on others' rights or well-being. Modern Republican politics in the United States demonstrates this clearly, with right-wing media manipulating public opinion merely for power rather than any genuine intent to help.
In essence, "Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument" emphasizes the power of showing rather than telling. It encourages individuals to lead by example, to embody what they advocate, and to let the results of their actions convince and persuade where words might fail.
Historical Examples
Rosa Parks: Her simple but profound action of refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
Mahatma Gandhi: His strategy of non-violent protest was a powerful series of actions that spoke to both the British authorities and the world. His Salt March became a significant step towards Indian independence.
Nelson Mandela: Mandela's actions after his release from prison, advocating for reconciliation rather than retribution, did more to unite post-apartheid South Africa than any argument could.
Mother Teresa: Her life's work among the poor and suffering in Kolkata was a living testament to her values, far more convincing than words in promoting compassion and charity.
Martin Luther King Jr.: His leadership in the Civil Rights Movement involved organizing and participating in actions like the Montgomery bus boycott and the March on Washington, which were more influential than mere rhetoric.
Joan of Arc: Her direct involvement and leadership in military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War rallied the French and turned the tide in their favor, which wouldn't have been possible through argument alone.
Dark Arts Disclaimer
The path of the Dark Arts beckons to the strong and ambitious, yet it carries its own set of consequences.
Most who follow the dark path regret their choices, often in the twilight of their lives, after being abandoned by their family or suffering a career-ending setback from which there is no recovery.
Do-gooders who follow the path of light wish to witness the downfall of Dark Arts Masters. Due to our lack of compassion or mercy, they shrink from our potency, but they actively work to undermine us whenever they can.
Followers of the dark path discover that genuine affection from others is rare or absent. Instead, we’re surrounded by fearful sycophants and aspiring apprentices who feign fondness but will betray us when it suits them.
The demise of Dark Arts Master is inglorious, symbolically in their professional lives and emotionally within the confines of their homes. Often, the actions of others seal their fate, and they meet their lonely and forgotten end, having alienated everyone.
The allure of power attracts individuals willing to pursue this fickle Fate. We adhere to power’s principles and ultimately meet our cruel fate at its cold hands.