Game of Thrones, Book 3, Part 2

Everybody wants to rule the world. Duh, this is the Game of Thrones, what else were you expecting?! But it’s key that those who rule know the duties that come with being a ruler. Mediocrity won’t suffice, and greatness? As Ser Barristan tells Daenerys:

“Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born… the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.”

Duties are something that King Stannis had to be reminded:

“He reminded me of my duty, when all I could think of was my rights.”

Lose track of that, and your external enemies will prevail, laments Stannis:

“I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the throne.”

Conquests and reigns are different beasts altogether, as Daenerys realizes.

Missandei: “You have bought them freedom as well.”

Daenerys: “Freedom to starve? Freedom to die?”

Unlike some of the other contenders, Daenerys can introspect. And so she stops her march to the capital and instead decides to:

“Stay. Rule. And be a queen.”

Sadly though, wisdom only comes with experience, as Jamie Lannister muses to himself (in a different context):

“This is what it does to you, to be too good too young.”

And the hard decisions still have to be made, as Stannis explains:

“He may be the best boy who ever drew breath and it would not matter. My duty is to the realm.”

It’s something Daenerys has to remind herself:

“Harsh justice is still justice.”

Not all the contenders for the throne are like Stannis or Daenerys. Far too many are how Littlefinger describes Cersei Lannister:

“She wants power, but has no notion what to do with it when she gets it.”

The world would be so much better if a person who could be ruler identifies early that it doesn’t appeal to him, as Jamie Lannister does:

“If this was power, why did it taste like tedium?”

Unfortunately, all too many becomes rulers with no idea how they want to rule, like King Joffrey, and end up de facto handing that power to others. When that arrangement becomes too visible, and the King marginalized, Tywin Lannister’s words are the harsh truth:

“Any man who must say, “I am the king” is no true king at all.”

Merciful and forgiving. Tywin Lannister berates King Joffrey on that:

“When your enemies defy you, you must serve them steel and fire. When they go to their knees, however, you must help them back to their feet. Elsewise no man will ever bend the knee to you.”

And image management has always been important, even for kings, explains Tywin:

“(Robert) knew Rhaegar’s children had to die if his throne was ever to be secure. Yet he saw himself as a hero, and heroes do not kill children.”

Victory via battles can sound noble, but what if treachery could save lives? Tywin puts the age old question of the lesser evil to Tyrion Lannister:

“Explain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at dinner (via treachery).”

Transparency isn’t the virtue it’s made out to be, especially for those whose decisions can impact thousands of lives, says Tywin:

“My object was to rid us of a dangerous enemy as cheaply as I could, not to indulge your curiosity or make your sister feel important.”

Plus, opaqueness can keep your enemies off their feet, says Littlefinger:

“Always keep your foes confused… Sometimes the best way to baffle them is to make moves that have no purposes, or even seem to work against you.”

If you shudder or are revolted by all this, are you any different than the ostrich who buries his head in the sand to escape reality? Are you asking for what Tyrion Lannister muses (in a different context altogether):

“Give me sweet lies, and keep your bitter truths.”