“Everything in this world is but a marionette show.”
Hagakure
What the author is saying here, is that there are many puppets and only a few puppeteers in this world…who would you rather be? Obviously the knee-jerk reaction from almost everyone is the puppeteer.
This quote is taken a bit out of context. It’s more powerful when read by itself. But in context, he emphasizes the concept of ‘illusion’ just before and just after. When I first read it, I didn’t really know what it meant. I had to reread it a few times. And maybe this isn’t what the author meant, but this is what it means to me…
The ‘illusion’ referenced is the fact that most people think they are making their own decisions. But in reality, we are not. The majority of people have their behavior steered by people or things in society. Religions and governments constrict our behavior. Telling us what’s acceptable and punishing us for what’s not. Marketers guide us what to watch, what to read, what to wear, what to eat.
Powerful lobbyists, heads of large corporations, brilliant marketers, heads of the giant charitable trusts, the president…there are but a few puppeteers…and the rest of us are moving and dancing at their every whim.
Now, I know this sounds like the start to a speech to launch a peasant rebellion. But it’s not. I don’t begrudge those in power. I don’t feel badly for the sheep that are dancing on command. I honestly think that the happiest way to go through life might be without asking questions. Just dancing blissfully, not kowing you are being pulled in every direction. Unfortunately for me, and most likely you if you’re reading this, I started asking those questions a long time ago. And a lot of people have. It’s like Neo in the Matrix…once you start down that path, there’s no going back.
I obviously don’t want to be a puppet, and that’s on me. But I don’t have a desire to be a puppeteer either. I don’t want to control other people. I do want to cut my strings so that I’m no longer bound to other people’s rules. To get to a place where, I am my own man.
I know what’s right. I now know how I want to behave in a way that makes me feel good. And that’s enough for me.
This shouldn’t be too difficult.
Call me Pinocchio, minus the lies.