Tendency: The force that maintains a phenomenon’s movement in a consistent direction. Therefore, as long as this tendency persists, the future can be predicted within certain limits. When tendencies change, so does the future. The surest way to get wealthy is to know the future first. Of course, just knowing the future isn’t enough. Still, it’s clear that those who see the future faster and have a wealth of knowledge will have an advantage in competition. In society, people operate under a common direction that its members agree upon and believe in, and they have the power to maintain that direction. For example, a brief fashion trend, the ongoing rain during the rainy season, or the inertia in physics that keeps an object moving at the same velocity unless acted upon by an external force. Once a force moves in a specific direction, it tends to continue in that direction. By carefully reading trends, you are more likely to build wealth or achieve social success. - Joseph’s “just my tho...
Paradoxically, one of the reasons for Rome’s demise was that it kept winning wars. Victories expanded the empire’s territory, and the risks increased proportionally. Men, primarily middle-class men, volunteered as soldiers; the larger the territory, the longer the wars lasted, and the longer it took for them to return home. The women who remained at home were forced to borrow labor and became indebted to the nobility. Eventually, the women were sold into slavery, and by the time the men returned, their families had disintegrated. People don’t betray because they’re evil, but because it increases their risk. If the territory you’re in grows, you might reconsider your loyalties to the organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”