“Once they’re in power, narcissists consolidate their position by firing everyone who challenges them. In their place rise a plague of toadies, opportunists, and enablers equally guided by self-interest and short on scruples. So you end up with these individualistic cultures with no teamwork and low integrity.
True narcissists are self-serving and lack integrity. They believe they’re superior and thus not subject to the same rules and norms. Studies show they’re more likely to act dishonestly to achieve their ends. They know they’re lying, and it doesn’t bother them. They don’t feel shame. These people aren’t going to change."
Charles A. O’Reilly, as quoted in How Narcissistic Leaders Destroy from Within, Stanford Business School, April 30, 2020
“The greatest evil is not done now in sordid dens of crime. It is not even done in concentration camps and labor camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered in clear, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices by quiet men, with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks, who do not need to raise their voice.
The surest road to Hell is the gradual one — the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, 1942
"Love does not make you weak, because it is the source of all strength— but it makes you see the nothingness of the illusory strength on which you depended before you knew it."
Léon Bloy
"Nor will love be seen coming from the hearts of those who are fallen into wickedness: they are the fruit of hate, deceit, greed, fear, pride, possession, and aggression. And they will not only forsake love by washing their hands of it, they will eventually come to condemn it, and persecute it— and thereby condemn themselves."
Jesse, Love is the Refuge of the Way, 24 June 2017
"We live in a world where love itself is condemned. People call it weakness, something to grow out of. Some are saying: 'let each one become as strong as he can, and let the weak perish.' The neo-paganism [of the Nazis] may well cast-off love but, in spite of everything, history teaches us that we shall be the victors over this. Do not yield to hatred. We are here in a dark tunnel, but we have to go on. At the end, an eternal light is shining for us. We shall not forsake love."
Titus Brandsma, Statement, Dachau, 26 July 1942
"The demon's target is not the possessed; it is us the observers.. everyone in this house. I think the point is to make us despair..to reject our humanity: to see ourselves as ultimately bestial, vile and putrescent; without dignity; ugly; unworthy."
William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist, May 1971
It
was risk on today.
Stocks rallied, gapping up at the open, and going out near the highs.
The VIX fell.
The Dollar rallied a bit to take back the 104 handle.
Gold and silver suffered some further weakness.
There will be an April futures contract option expiration for precious metals on the Comex on Wednesday the 26th.
We should be ashamed of what we are becoming.
It puzzles us that there are many ardent believers in what is the worst in us, yielding to hate, anger, and greed.
How easily it is for the proud to fall, gradually into the abyss, according to that infernal plan.
We shall see the gradual downfall of nations to the unthinkable, one by one after another.
Repentance, forgiveness, thankfulness. These are our three great gifts.
Have a pleasant evening.
