The greatest way to win a war is by the art of persuasion and seduction. For if you win over a place or nation by force, their resentments towards you slowly turn into hate and therefore you lose all your power over them. But if instead, you win the war by working on their minds and hearts, using their likes and dislikes to control them, eventually you form not servants and potential rebels to your reign but fiercely loyal allies. By catering to each and everyone’s personal psychologies and exploiting their weaknesses, you slowly crush them and break them down in despair. And if you are wise enough to be the one to aid in this time of vulnerability and give them a sense of safety with you, you will eventually create an army of “allied-servants” under you. All of which are passionate in your defense.
In our own history that’s mainly about colonization, the demonstration of this law is clear with how we “accepted” our colonizers. Even though we were under the Spanish the longest, we all kind of hated them because of how harsh they treated us and we were quick to accept the “help” that the Americans gave us. They fought the Spanish alongside us and this gave us a sense of security with them; thinking that they really wanted to help us. Even during the American Colonization period, we were a lot more accepting with their ways because they gave us more self-confidence; with more and more Filipinos working in positions never unheard of during the Spanish Era. They were a lot more keen on winning our hearts than winning us through brute force like how the Spanish and Japanese did it (but course the Americans also had their share of violence here). And look at us now, growing more and more Americanized as we speak. Maybe this Law has more power than we think…
Now that we see that this has some sort of historical proof based on our own history, one question immediately arises for me: How in the world does this law go side by side with law 15, Crush your enemies totally? I’ll quote from the blog post on that entry:
“All people in the world are made to not to like to lose… its human nature, none of us like to lose or fail in a task that we set out and are determined to finish. And like many people totally humiliated by defeat, the ire and the hope of vengeance grows with every succeeding day and like a cornered tiger become willing to fight with nothing to lose.”
So, how will you know for sure that you have won your enemies’ hearts? How will you know that they are not humiliated by their defeat to you and eventually create an uprising to destroy you? If this particular law says that we should use persuasion and seduction to win over our enemies, how are we sure that they are not using the same tools to fool us into a false sense of trust as well? Making us think that they are our allies but by doing so, we become closer and closer to them. Thus, giving them more and more of their own levers and handles to try and control us with. Hmmm… What would you do?
- Christian Carlo Canlas
- II BS Management Engineering
- History 18L Prof. Andrea Jalandoni
29 comments:
i don't think you can ever truly know if someone you've beaten isn't gonna plot their revenge against you. Constant vigilance, good radar for deception, etcetera or plain trust are some ways to go.
I like you example of colonization. When Alexander the Great conquered Persia and Asia, his policy was of tolerance towards these people's cultures. Many historians say that this allowed his foreign rule to be more acceptable. (It's like getting stuck with a partner you don't like. As long as he doesn't bother you or won't change your lifestyle, you're more or less okay with him.)
monica ang, L
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. i think this law highlights the need to give your trust carefully -- to be on the look out for people who only seek to destroy you, to be wary of people who are too nice, too perfect, too good to be true and makes you aware that, what we see isn't always what we get.
i recently watched the day the earth stood still and, hopefully revealing the following won't ruin the movie entirely: there was an old man who said that he lived among us and he grew to love the human race despite understanding that the species was primarily destructive in nature.
i think the law operates on the same assumption: that only those without power are vulnerable where intimacy of any kind is involved. those with power are also susceptible to becoming closer to those they want to enslave. therefore, the law is a double-edged sword. those with power may, after getting to know the people they want to enslave, begin to realize that the differences which set them apart were merely misunderstandings.
kyra ballesteros Hi18K
The history of our ancestors has given enough proof to show the methods of deception. Though I think that deception is an evolving thing, the past of mankind has already given our generation a handful of lessons on deciphering different forms of deception. And for the record, being "too good to be true" is already old enough, as we speak.
Chua Rojas, Serica
Hi18 - L
Crush your enemies and seduce your allies. America's enemy was Spain, not the Philippines, so they seduced us because we were under Spain, which meant our forces were sort of joined with the Spaniards', so that we'd help them get rid of Spain. This situation is actually a perfect example of how those two laws go together. You don't seduce and crush the same group of people at the same time. You seduce them before they've decided completely that they're against you. You crush them after you've already won to make sure they don't come back as a threat later.
Dominique Du, L
As others have pointed out in other comments (in other entries, I think), these laws aren't absolute. For example, if you use Law 1, you can't use Law 2. It doesn't work like that. I think it's a case to case basis.
Basically, this law is like Law 33 (Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew). Work on the hearts and minds of others.. You have to know what turns their fancy. In some cultures, if you spare a man's life, it's seen as a weakness. In other cultures, you gain their respect, so I think it depends on what your enemy "wants."
That said, you have to be pretty perceptive. The law is more like a guideline, for me. I mean, there's no ONE way to win over everybody. So, you have to know WHAT to work on for you to work on it.
theresa rosario tan
hi18k
i think that one should just continue to employ his or her own tactics in the hope of winning people over to his side, while at the same time, keep a very keen and watchful eye on the people you are dealing with. it is important to be vigilant because it makes you ready for anything. you have an idea of what to expect so that when that time comes, you'll know how to respond. you're right, it is possible for others to be tricking without you knowing it. that is why it will help to be observant.
-Philip Albert T. Verde
Hi18 K
I agree with Kyra. It's extremely important to know who to trust, how much trust to give, etc. For this law to apply, I think you have to make sure that the person isn't devious... that they have no malicious intentions, too. Like the Spaniards with the Filipinos. It was easy for them to earn our acceptance because we had no schemes whatsoever to conquer them. It's a different story when both parties are plotting something... neither side can really tell what the other is thinking.
Ocampo 18-K
This law reminded me of the great pharaoh Snefru. He was a kind and likable leader which propelled him to rule Egypt for a long period of time.
People listen to leaders who they favor. When the citizens of a certain nation or state believe in their leaders, the chances are that the progression and advancements in these states would be above average.
Hi- L Richard Hahn
"The greatest way to win a war is by the art of persuasion and seduction"
i personally believe in this line. it would be a lot easier to win them over once you are able to persuade them.
AnneAndreaLacson
Hi 18-K
I definitely agree with the rest of the comments about colonization and how it has worked for so many leaders, namely Alexander the Great, the Spanish and the Americans. Because the Spanish were able to befriend us in the beginning, we gave in to their ways and eventually, their power ruled over us for 300 years. They appealed to our senses and it worked. They left their mark and to this day, the Spanish culture is written all over us.
Gia Fortun
Hi18 - K
It's difficult to conclude whether you have won your enemies' hearts or not. First and foremost, they are (or were) your enemies, and they could always create plots against you. They could just be lying, saying that they're now your allies but don't be fooled just yet. Test the waters before diving in, for you might just drown in their wrath. If you go in too soon, they might just have more things to grab you by the neck with and murder every bit of your body.
I do agree that such a thing happened to us too, as we were seduced by the Americans in order for us to revolt against the Spaniards and pledge allegiance to them for they were our 'saviors'.
Think of it as the plan in the Mean Girls movie. "How do you destroy a dictator? Cut down her resources." She's nothing with her hot-bodied boyfriend, her perfect physique and the wannabes who follow her. What the protagonist did was to pretend to be allies with her enemy, in order to slowly dissolve her resources. She made the antagonist fat, she stole her boyfriend and she made her friends act against her.
Gliza Marasigan
Hi18-L
This law is arguably one of the strongest and most sensible laws.
Brute force may be an effective strategy to conquer a nation, but I believe that the most effective way of conquering is through people's hearts and minds. It is arguably harder to take over a country's culture and mindset than it is to take over physical territory. But once you've taken over a nation's culture, everything else can easily be taken over. By working on the hearts and minds of others, you're essentially letting your opponent ACCEPT you. A plot to take over an opponent through this way is virtually concealed under the guise of false interest and charity.
Chio Cebrero
Hi 18 L
I think this law is really tricky. As it was mentioned, the other parties might also be using the same trick to us. If that is the case, I guess the wiser one wins the game. This law is quite in line with the law about crushing enemies. I think the best way is to respond and use the strategies case by case. Sometimes, following this law and turning enemies into friends might be of benefit, but I think, this won't work all the time. For sure, there will be some people hiding and pretending their real feelings / anger. For those, crushing them (if you can) will be more advantageous.
Yu Chin Hong
Hi18-K
This law is deception, and works depending on how long the deception can be maintained. I don't think our ancestors "accepted" the Americans just because they "helped" them. If you think about it, the people during that time were suffering and were eager for a revolution against the Spaniards, any outside help would've been a relief.
Cristal Rodriguez
Hi18-L
to theresa: i agree with the similarity of the other law (thumbscrews) with this one. if you don't have a real grasp of the personalities of those you are trying to befriend, you can never win them over fully.
to giza: i love your use of Mean Girls for this law. aside from how Cady sabotaged Regina, you can also see how Regina became "queen bee". She was good at flattering other people to get them to think she liked them (ex. how she "loved" Cady's bracelet and her classmate's vintage skirt)
monica ang, L
pls comment on my post! 47th law =)
having just watched hannibal, don't you think that hannibal's method, mainly attacking his enemies straight on and trying to win over Rome's allies is a very good one? It combines the two strategies in question here- brute force and deception. By attacking the Romans straight on with brute force, he generated so much fear that even the great Roman army was hesitant to fight him. And by trying to win over Rome's allies, in a way, he was working on the hearts and minds of not the enemy exactly, but the "enemy's past enemies". If you were to choose between brute force or deception to conquer an enemy, what would it be? Let's assume that you don't outnumber the enemy and everything is equal. Would you work with brute force and military strategy? or would you use the art of persuasion and deception?
P.S.- Hannibal was stupid for not attacking at once after Cannae.
to chio: no doubt that this law is one of the most sensible ones. but let's think of something else here...
If there is let's say a nation trying to take over another nation, and the conquerors are using the art of deception and persuasion to "win the enemies over", do you think it is possible for full acceptance from the enemies? Because the mere fact that some country is trying to take over you, it definitely means they want something from your country, whether it be resources or what. No doubt colonization is fueled by self-interest. Having this in mind, don't you think that the enemy will always "hate" you? Even if you appear as the noblest of rulers, there will always be an opposition because of the mere fact that you're invading their territory. I just think that in the context of war and all, using deception and persuasion is not enough. I think for full acceptance to be possible, you'd have to kill the wise ones who never forget you're just after something they own.
No two physiological entities are so representatively accurate as the heart and mind. They are the backbone, so to speak, of a person; without which we seek to function. Now, as the law expressly stipulates, going to work on these strategic mainframes result in great effects when done properly. Conversion is your main task. And the key to getting there is bending your adversary's beliefs, values and credos - in a sly and conniving way - to your wills.
Joey Palma
Hi18-K
I agree with what Ayo said. It's hard to win the hearts and minds of others. I mean I think it's plain to see that those who are attacking you don't like you at all. Instead of coming up with ways in persuading them, you should focus on tactics in defeating them and how you can gain an upper hand in battle.
I think it's risky to be vulnerable towards others. It would be for the best to not get attached towards people if your main objective is to win at war. In battle, there are no friends but only winners and losers.
Teri Marcelo
Hi 18-K
@ teri: Precisely my point. What I'm trying to get at is the most realistic solution and one that keeps everything in mind. When trying to conquer something/someone, you really do have to use some force to some extent. In war, you're right, there are only winners and losers.
@joey: I totally get your point. There is no higher degree of conquering than to conquer the backbone, the heart and the mind. But with this, comes a great margin for error. When one deals with the hearts and minds of others, things will definitely get tricky and most of the time, it will get ugly. Therefore to truly use this tactic, one should be a master at it and this means that one has failed many times and has learned from them. In the context of society today, this can be used in many, many ways. But since the whole book emphasizes examples from wars and what not, I personally think it's such a hard strategy to employ in that context. Especially if what you're after is a complete domination of your enemy.
Ayo Canlas
Hi 18 L
@Gliza: Exactly, you really never know if your enemies are persuaded or what. They are your ENEMIES! And when one plays mindgames with enemies', things just get a lot more complicated, not necessarily leading into any form of resolve. I like your example from Mean Girls even though i didn't watch it. It's the perfect example of how things can get really ugly when things are not resolved by force. Anything goes.
Ayo Canlas
Hi 18 L
The use of the mind and heart of the others may not be as easy as one intended. Using force and power is easier and faster. However, in order to gain the heart of others, it is better to use persuasion and seduction. It is because this is the gain of will of the person unlike force is.
We should be careful because some may be using this principle in order to gain our trust in order to use us in their plans for the future.
Hae In Lee
Hi18 K
The use of the mind and heart of the others may not be as easy as one intended. Using force and power is easier and faster. However, in order to gain the heart of others, it is better to use persuasion and seduction. It is because this is the gain of will of the person unlike force is.
We should be careful because some may be using this principle in order to gain our trust in order to use us in their plans for the future.
Hae In Lee
Hi18 K
This law is a good one to follow since it breaks down your targets defenses from the inside. In appealing to their hearts and minds, rather than forcing your way in, they accept you, and practically dive into their own defeat, without their even knowing it.
-Angelo Mendoza, His18-L
“Keep your friends close, your enemies closer”
I agree that getting into your enemies head, and making them think that you’re allies will prove to be highly beneficial in the long run. Winning them over may be a bit difficult, but is possible. In the Philippine context, the “plastikan” concept may be utilized to make this more effective. In a nicer point of view, we have to present a certain degree of civility towards those we may not like, in order to get what we need from them. Doesn’t sound very nice, but this is an existent reality we may unfortunately have to face at certain points in our life.
Paolo Banaga
Hi 18-L
to paolo: your example of plastikan is a very good one because a lot of people do it everyday. So many, if not all people, are capable of using this law, just in varying degrees. Pretty scary thought...
Ayo Canlas
Hi 18 L
It’s either you win the hearts and the minds of others, gain their trust then eventually crush them… or you work on their weaknesses. Both of those I mentioned are other laws on this blog. I think this is a set off tactic for the other laws. Either way, this law tells us to create a plan and make it personal. The terms “hearts and minds” both connote inside of from within and that is the key to acquiring this law. When you work from within, the impact is stronger and then it projects from within. When you work on the hearts and the minds of people, you deal with a stronger being than just a common or universal trait. Attacking the very of a person illustrates the consequences of tracking the personality (both culture-acquired and inherited traits). In doing so, the spirit of the other person will be shattered and destroyed.
P.S.
This can also be taken in a positive note. Seeing the negative side just makes it seem more forceful (which is needed to emphasize).
Mara Liboro
Hi18-K
@ Angelo -- I like what you said about how working on someone's hearts and minds is better than forcing yourself in because they accept you and you gain access to them without them even knowing it.
Though deception is a largely successful form of dealing with difficult situations, I think that it can in itself be just as difficult because careful planning, research and presentation must be observed.
Regina A. Yulo
Hi 18 L
https://brainbook.in/ Here are all the law in hindi i found that's awesome
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