Observance

In Game of Thrones, Tywin Lannister does not take sides during Robert's rebellion. By remaining neutral, he could wait out the war and just to support the winning side in the end. His ability to remain neutral kept him ahead of the game, and ultimately lead him to become the most powerful man in Westeros.

Some practical applications of this principle:

1) Never marry, and think very hard about going steady with a girl. Never let a girl move in with you.

2) Keep your options open in your career. Don't be afraid of sending out your resume to see if better opportunities exist. Consider starting your own company if you can find a market for your skills.

3) Do hobbies or activities that let you meet new people- this prevents you getting stuck with the same social group. I find that going to language classes and climbing has been a great way for me personally to meet people.

I would say that the only people you can commit to these days is your immediate family. This is due to kin selection, which is beyond the point of this discussion.

Haha this law really doesn't need explanations or parables. It is TRP. The only person you should commit to is yourself.

It is the fool who always rushes to take sides.

A reminder of why white knights hold no power.

Three benefits I can think of:

1) Being free from restrictions gives you license motivation to try new things

2) It's indirect dread game. People will pre-select you as more sexual or alpha because the ability to be non-committal implies you have options. And people with options have power.

3) You can get out of sticky situations much easier.

By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others

The one who is willing to walk away in the relationship more easily is the one with the power in the relationship.

Also the one advantage to having fewer friends is that you have way less obligations to commit to.

playing people against one another, making them pursue you.

People who haven't made an impression on you are like chessboard pieces. Everything can be manipulated if you're not fully invested in them.

I think this applies to ideas and vague notions like the "status quo" and "equality." People, especially in America, live their lives with a lot of unspoken loyalty to concepts like that, and this entraps them.

This!

Probably more than any others. A buddy of mine was bitching to me the other day about his unplugging and his experience with women.

"All women are good for is roping me into shit. Ever since I quit letting women rope me into shit, all I get is lonely...but at least I'm not constantly getting roped into shit."