"When apparent stability disintegrates,
As it must-
God is Change-
People tend to give in
To fear and depression,
To need and greed.
When no influence is strong enough
To unify people
They divide.
They struggle,
One against one,
Group against group,
For survival, position, power.
They remember old hates and generate new ones,
They create chaos and nurture it.
They kill and kill and kill,
Until they are exhausted and destroyed,
Until they are conquered by outside forces,
Or until one of them becomes
A leader
Most will follow,
Or a tyrant
Most fear.

Earthseed: The Books of the Living
Lauren Oya Olamina"
— Octavia E. Butler

I've retracted
I am now the observer and the doer for completion
nothing more, nothing less within that space
its toxic, so I only do what is needed for the task
investing anything more would be sabotage to my soul
I've retracted
the approachable oracle,
now observant oracle taking notes, drafting my plan, for the execution of my temple
the soldiers are paired in lies, siding for hiding, evil for recourse, lying for trying, simpletons to retain feminine, posturing for abused ego's
marching in line they bind
exceeding the ranks from private, lieutenant, to captain,
presidential potential, like minds only are included in my circle
weak ones are assigned to manage the output, armed with uncoordinated scattered brains with no say in the stratagem
pawns with desired faces
true generals armed with poker face

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.

-The Art of War