keep your friends close, and your enemies closer

GOT S07E06

Tyrion: This will be a difficult negotiation. We’re sitting down with people who want to see us both headless. My sister’s likely to say something provocative.

Daenerys: And?

Tyrion: And you, have been known to lose your temper from time to time…as all great leaders do.

Daenerys: When have I lost my temper?

Tyrion: Burning the Tarly’s for instance.

Daenerys: That was not impulsive. That was necessary. 

Tyrion: Perhaps.

Daenerys: Perhaps.

Tyrion: Perhaps the father needed to die and not the son. Perhaps they both needed time to contemplate the mistakes in the solitude of a cold cell. We had no time to discuss the possibilities before you ended their possibilities. 

Daenerys: One can be forgiven for thinking you’re taking your family’s side in this debate.

Tyrion: I am taking their side. You need to take your enemy’s side if you’re going to see things the way they do and you need to see things the way they do if you’re going to anticipate their actions, respond effectively and beat them. Which I want you to do very much because I believe in you and the world you want to build. But the world you want to build doesn’t get built all at once. Probably not in a single lifetime. 

Sure I can share plenty of other scenes from the awesome Game of Thrones show but Tyrion said something that resonated with me. A universal statement which holds much more gravity beyond storytelling - a very real truth. Not just for strategizing but for the act of simply putting yourself in somebody else's shoes. If we did more of that, maybe we'd all have more compassion and better communication / understanding amongst each other. That's if you're not doing it for the intent of manipulating your way to ruling all 7 kingdoms. Happy watching!

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