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One of my students read me the following excerpt from 15th Century diplomat and author Niccolò Machiavelli, in order to clarify aspects of human nature and leadership.
If you are chosen as king, and the crown turns out to be big, then first it will fall on your eyes… And you will not see anything!
Then it will fall on your ears… And you won’t hear anything!
Then it will slide down to your lips… And you won’t be able to say anything!
In the end, it will fall on your neck… And it will become your collar, by which your own slaves will lead you to execution!
And you will see everything, you will hear everything, and you will be able to say everything…
But no one will listen to you anymore and you will have nothing to say!
Machiavelli described the crown—a symbol of power—and how it can slip from a leader’s head, blinding, deafening, and ultimately leading to their downfall. The question is: What does it mean when the crown stays on your head?
When the crown stays on your head, it means you are fulfilling your role as a leader. You do not just hold power; you bear responsibility. You connect to your people and to wisdom that comes from the collective. A true leader does not think, “I am the power, I am the king.” Instead, a leader understands that power is not for self-glory but for serving those who entrusted it to him.
The moment a leader begins to think, “It is all about me,” they lose connection. They become isolated, surrounded not by wise advisers but by those who seek their own gain. This is the beginning of the leader’s end. History teaches us this lesson again and again. Leaders who succumb to their ego stop being an authority. Those they once ruled, those who served them, will inevitably lead them to their destruction.
What is the solution to such a situation? How can a leader keep the crown on their head without it falling and choking them?
The future successful leader needs to surround themselves with the wisest and most capable people—not their friends or close associates, but those who carry the unique abilities to advise for the good of all. Such a leader will be humble enough to understand that wisdom is among the masses, not in their own mind alone. They will listen, care, and act as a parent to their people, bearing responsibility for every individual, understanding their needs, and working for their well-being.
If the leader’s ego awakens, they must wage war against it. A true king “kills his ‘self’” daily. He puts his personal desires aside for the good of his people. This is no easy task. It requires constant vigilance and connection with those who can keep him grounded, and above all, a deep, unshakable care for his people.
Can such leaders exist in our world? Perhaps not yet. But humanity is on an evolutionary path. Though we face obstacles, thorns, and difficulties with this very egoistic desire for self-gain alone constantly growing bigger and bringing about myriad problems and crises, we nevertheless progress. It might be painful, but we will break through to a new and upgraded attitude of mutual care for one another.
A true leader is thus not defined by their power, but by their responsibility, humility, and ability to care for everyone under their crown. Only then will the crown remain steady, not as a burden, but as an illumination of guidance and hope for all.
Based on KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on July 29, 2024. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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