Quote
Power is an illusion of perception.
So many times in my life, especially professionally, this quote has helped me to get through a tough situation that I can’t solve by just running away. I tend to avoid difficult conversations, coz of my own self-doubts and low self-confidence. I think of this quote, and what effect it had on Shallan in the whole series, and that motivates me to try to imbibe the essence of what Jasnah meant here in that tough moment.
Simply1 making myself 2 believe that I am someone I am not, brings a slight shift in my mindset that keeps compounding as I keep “perceiving” myself in a different manner.
Does work wonders positively, and is absolutely nefarious (bordering on overt narcissism I’d say) when done negatively.
Jasnah goes more in detail after dropping that banger line above, giving more depth to it.
Quote
“Don’t mistake me,” Jasnah continued. “Some kinds of power are real – power to command armies, power to Soulcast. These come into play far less often than you would think. On an individual basis, in most interactions, this thing we call power – authority – exists only as it is perceived.”
“You say I have wealth. This is true, but you have also seen that I do not often use it. You say I have authority as the sister of a king. I do. And yet, the men of this ship would treat me exactly the same way if I were a beggar who had convinced them I was the sister to a king. In that case, my authority is not a real thing. It is mere vapors – an illusion. I can create that illusion for them, as can you.”