48 Laws of Power Law 10

570 Words3 Pages
The twelfth of September, Two Thousand Thirteen Law ten, Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky The tenth law of power is to avoid the unhappy and unlucky. Robert Greene summarized this law by saying that, "You can die from someone else's misery—emotional states are as infectious as diseases. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead." Lola Montez was a mediocre flamenco dancer from Spain. To improve her career she attempted to use successful young men and the authority that they possessed. In every case Montez was the cause of the men's downfalls. Her beauty was matched by a force of disaster, everything she was involved in ended negatively. Robert Greene described this trait by saying, "It stems from an inward instability that radiates outward, drawing disaster upon itself. There is almost a desire to destroy and unsettle." Lola Montez is the perfect example of an infectious personality, and the best thing to do when confronted with a person of that nature is to flee their presence or suffer the consequences. Once she would have her hooks in these men, their slow downfall began. One of her victims was king Ludwig of Bavaria, who felt compelled to help Lola yet once he was warned of the dangers of his affair with her, he could not seem to resist Lolaand almost found his once peaceful country in a state of civil war. It was not until then that the king finally ordered Lola to leave but a month after she left King Ludwig was forced to relinquish his throne. There are many men who suffered because of their association with Lola Montez. King Ludwig said that he was “bewitched” by Lola. Lola was an unstable, incurable and infectious character type. This is not to
Open Document