Dark Arts Power: Abandon Friends and Turn Former Foes Turn Allies
Eliminate friends as a source of weakness, and surround yourself with enemies who will be more loyal.
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 #2: NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES
Be wary of friends——they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. 'They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy, and he will be more loyal than a friend because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
True dark arts masters have no friends, but apprentices and lay practitioners often still retain these residual relationships. Friendships are fraught with danger and are generally to be avoided.
It’s far more preferable to be surrounded by a group of vanquished enemies whose lives (or professional careers) you’ve saved from ruin. A man whom you spared from the guillotine will be more loyal than a friend.
Law #2 from "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene, "Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies," revolves around exploiting interpersonal relationships, especially in contexts of power and influence.
The law is premised on a few key ideas:
The Risk of Complacency with Friends: Friends will become complacent and less vigilant in their dealings with you. This complacency leads to negligence or betrayal, as friends feel secure enough to act against your interests, assuming that the friendship will protect them from repercussions.
Friends and Envy: Friends see you as an equal and not a superior, so they are more prone to envy. As you gain power and success, friends become envious and resentful, leading to subtle undermining or overt betrayal.
Motivation of Former Enemies: In contrast, a former enemy, once turned into an ally or employee, has more to prove. They are aware of the past animosity and understand that they will be under closer scrutiny. This awareness drives them to demonstrate their loyalty and dedication more emphatically.
Transformation of Enmity into Respect: Turning an enemy into an ally can also transform negative energy into a properly subservient relationship. The process of earning trust and respect from a former adversary can lead to a stronger and more resilient alliance as the former enemy frequently proves their loyalty.
The Value of Vigilance: With a former enemy, you are likely to remain vigilant, and cautious, and not take the relationship for granted. This vigilance can prevent surprises and keep the relationship more straightforward and transactional. Plus, if an enemy fails you, there’s no emotional attachment to prevent you from exacting revenge on them.
Historical Examples
Michael III of Byzantium and Basilius: Michael III, the Byzantine Emperor, favored his friend Basilius, elevating him to high positions. However, Basilius, driven by ambition and perhaps envy, betrayed Michael, eventually murdering him and seizing the throne. This example illustrates the danger of placing too much trust in friends, who might be driven by hidden ambitions or envy.
King Louis XI and Nemours: King Louis XI of France demonstrated the opposite side of this law. He was known for using his enemies to his advantage. After defeating Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, Louis hired the Duke's minister, Commines, who had betrayed Charles. Commines became a loyal and valuable servant to Louis, motivated by the need to prove his loyalty to his new master.
Lyndon B. Johnson and J. Edgar Hoover: In a more modern context, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson kept J. Edgar Hoover, the first Director of the FBI, close to him, despite Hoover being perceived as an enemy by many in Johnson's circle. Johnson understood that it was better to have Hoover inside his tent "looking out," rather than outside his tent "looking in," indicating a strategic move to keep a potential enemy close where he could be watched and controlled.
These examples highlight the core idea of the law: that friends will become complacent and betray, while former enemies, knowing they have much to prove, can become loyal and valuable allies.
A true dark arts master has no friends because they are a source of weakness. Besides the tendency of friends to feel envious and betray you, friends may need help, draining your time and resources if you provide it.
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.