Proverb for paranoids

[andrew at cee.hw.ac.uk]

Murthy Yenamandra writes:
> Steely provides us the original version:
> > "The innocence of the *creatures* is in inverse proportion to the
> > immorality of the *Master*."

  ...

> Two, I don't have my copy here to check the context, but does any one
> want to comment on why the proportion is *inverse* here and not direct?
> The inverse proportion works for creatures that're created by the master
> (and are his extensions), but not creatures that're enslaved by the
> master.

If the master is innocent then his creatures will not be under his
control and therefore almost certainly contain some corrupt or
corrupted creature who leads the others to perdition.

If the master is immoral then he will maintain the innocence of his
creatures to ensure that they do not try any tricks or give the game
aaway through bad acting - stooges do a much finer job than those
whose evil might lead them to try making a percentage out of your
abuse.

In most cases there is an uneasy truce where the master and his
creatures do their best to get a little bit of advantage out of each
other, both sides wise to the opportunities for abuse and
counter-abuse.

The relation is clearly one of inverse proportion although it may not
be direct - there may be a power term involved (probably favouring the
master - ho ho ho).

The spirit of selfless cooperation never enters into the equation,
naturally, since the proverbs *are* for paranoids.



Andrew Dinn
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And though Earthliness forget you,
To the stilled Earth say:  I flow.
To the rushing water speak:  I am.