Your Turn Now

The goat that stays next to the slaughter house should not be surprised by the knife.

You cannot make friends with the tiger and expect that on a hungry day the tiger will not attack you.

If you keep proximity with the wild and crafty, sooner than later not only will your reputation get tarnished but you will also become a victim. Don't be surprised.

The danger often begins with the comforting belief that we are the exception. We watch someone deceive others, betray confidences and exploit goodwill, yet convince ourselves that our bond with them is different. Their conduct towards others is a warning we dismiss because, for the moment, their favour benefits us. But being useful to someone is no assurance of being safe with them.

Consider a young executive who enjoyed his manager’s confidence and helped him discredit colleagues. He mistook access for affection and favour for loyalty. When a project failed, the manager handed the board a file blaming him—including emails he had written at the manager’s own instructions. Only then did he understand: he had watched the pattern for years; he simply never imagined his name would enter it.