Power Is an Illusion

Now you see it; now you don’t

Now you see it; now you don’t

Now you see it. Now you don’t. — Pic by Rohan Makhecha

“Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick. A shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” — Lord Varys

Power is a curious thing.

“Three great men sit in a room, a king, a priest, and a rich man. Between them stands a common sellsword. Each great man bids the sellsword kill the other two. Who lives, who dies?” — Lord Varys said.

“Depends on the sell-sword.” — Tyrion Lannister replied.

Varys: “Does it? He has neither crown nor gold nor favors with the gods.”

Tyron: “He has a sword, the power of life and death.”

Varys: “But if it’s swordsmen who rule, why do we pretend kings hold all the power?

Power lies in the eye of the beholder.

People are not powerful; we see them as such. And we lose our power when we get tricked into thinking someone else is stronger than we are. As the Game of Thrones’ riddle above reveals: power is an illusion — now you have it, now you don’t.

How…