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Law 17
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The 48 Laws of Power, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power, Morality, and Pragmatism
Emotion vs. Action
The Pitfalls of Greed
History and Human Nature
Summary
Analysis
Do not build fortresses to protect yourself—isolation is dangerous. While a fortress may seem like a solution for the dangers of the world, it can have the opposite effect by cutting you off from valuable resources. It’s better to be out and about among people, with a crowd offering better protection from enemies. Ch‘in Shih Huang Ti was the powerful first emperor of China, comparable to Alexander the Great. But he eventually became so paranoid that he withdrew from the world, only traveling in disguise. One day, he died suddenly and alone, far from anyone he knew. By that point, his ministers had largely seized power anyway, filling the vacuum that Shih Huang Ti’s withdrawal left.
Greene has hinted in previous laws that while independence is good, too much can be dangerous. This law expands further on that idea, showing how power is rooted in relationships and how isolating oneself from the world means cutting oneself off from power. Greene identifies fear, particularly of enemies, as one reason why people retreat from the world. He argues, however, that this type of retreat is counterproductive, with crowds paradoxically offering more protection.
Active
Themes
By contrast, King Louis XIV followed this law, resisting the urge to isolate himself in the newly constructed Versailles, instead keeping the palace so busy and full of guests that no one had any privacy in it—and so no one had room to scheme. Similarly, Machiavelli wrote that fortresses are always a mistake, symbolizing isolation and creating an easy target. Humans are social, and the only way to practice social skills is to spend time around other people. Power is also something that comes from other people, and so a lack of social contact separates a person from power.
This story about King Louis XIV, one of the longest-reigning monarchs of all time, shows how keeping yourself surrounded by other people can actually protect you instead of making you vulnerable. Many of the other laws recommend viewing other people with suspicion, but this law counteracts that. Instead, it suggests that in spite of the risks other people pose, withdrawing from society isn’t an option.
Active
Themes
One rare instance where you should break this law is if you need to break the pressure to conform in society. Machiavelli could only write The Prince from the isolation of exile. Still, there is always the danger that isolation will just lead you to make strange or dangerous decisions, losing your rational perspective.
