A Warrior In A Garden
Jacques pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped into the dimly lit cigar lounge. The air was thick with the sweet and pungent smell of tobacco, and the lighting was dim but warm, casting deep shadows that played across the walls.
Jacques scanned the room, searching for the figure he had come to meet. He spotted him in the far corner sofa, a silhouette shrouded in darkness. The Invisible Man, a man whose with unknown origins and whose motives were inscrutable. Jacques always felt a sense of unease every time he met him.
The Invisible Man looked up as Jacques approached, his expression cold and unreadable. He gestured for Jacques to sit down, but there was no warmth in his tone. "Jacques," he said simply, his eyes darting over to the young Frenchman.
Jacques took a seat across from the Invisible Man, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over him. He had come seeking something, a direction, a sounding board, but he knew that the Invisible Man was not going to provide any of that. There was a sense of agony that permeated every interaction with him, a feeling of coldness and detachment that was hard to shake.
The Invisible Man took a long drag on his cigar, the tip glowing a bright red in the dimly lit room. The smoke hung in the air, casting a haze around them that added to the sense of mystery and intrigue.
"I have a problem," Jacques said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "A complex decision to make at work, and I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm being forced to choose between being good and doing what's right."
The Invisible Man leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated Jacques' dilemma. There was a sense of calculation in his gaze, a feeling that he was weighing the pros and cons of every possible scenario.
"You're right to feel conflicted," he said finally, his voice low and measured. "The world is not always black and white. But for the moment you have chose to be a gardener in a war.”
Jacques stared at him with a pitiful gaze, which had no effect on the Invisible Man.
The Invisible Man continued, “You have heard of the old Chinese proverb, attributed to Sun-Tzu and Bruce Lee?”
“it is better to be a warrior in a garden...”
Jacques looked towards the Invisible Man intently, who took a luxurious drag before continuing.
“warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.”
Fixated on his cigar, the Invisible Man added that to be a warrior in a garden signified that as men, we must never become so comfortable in peace, that we cannot take difficult decisions when the moment arrives.
Jacques nodded,. There was something reassuring in the Invisible Man's words, a feeling that he was not alone in his struggles.
The two men sat in silence for a few moments, the only sound the soft rustling of smoke as it drifted up from the Invisible Man's cigar. The cigar was a dark and oily wrapper, carefully hand-rolled and aged to perfection. Jacques suddenly felt a sense of comfort in the dimly lit room, a feeling that this room understood the understood the complexities of life.
Gardener In A War
Jacques took a deep breath and leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the Invisible Man. "It’s the bank…. I've been tasked with making some difficult decisions that will impact the lives of many people," he said slowly. "The bank is in trouble, and we need to make cuts in order to stay afloat."
The Invisible Man listened quietly, puffing on his cigar. Jacques continued, his voice growing more desperate with each passing word. "But the decisions I need to make are cruel and heartless. People will lose their jobs, their homes, their livelihoods. I will be seen as a savage, a heartless manager who only cares about the bottom line."
The Invisible Man said softly “Sophisticated savage, not just a savage.”
“Sophisticated savage, you say?” inquired Jacques quizzically.
The Invisible Man remained silent for a moment, his eyes flickering with an inner fire. "Yes, a sophisticated savage, a warrior gardener. Why being those a dilemma?" he said finally, his voice low and measured. "The greater good requires sacrifice. If you do not make these cuts, the bank will fail, and more people will suffer in the long run."
Jacques sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He pondered over these words, sophisticated savage, warrior gardener, words that he was not familiar with. He did love spending the idle Sunday tending to his garden, but a warrior gardener sounded like an oxymoron.
He was no brute, no warrior and certainly not a warrior in a garden.
The cigar smoke curled around him, casting a sense of unease and disquiet over the entire room. The air was thick with tension, the only sound the soft crackling of burning tobacco.
"But how can I be so ruthless?" Jacques asked, he finally said. "How can I be both a good person and a bad person at the same time?"
The Invisible Man leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Jacques' own. "Is that really a question, or is it that good and bad are a function of context and do exist in absolute?" he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "The world is not always black and white. Sometimes, we must do what is necessary, even if it means sacrificing our own morality."
Jacques sat back in his chair, feeling a sense of numbness wash over him. The cigar smoke was thick in his throat, making it difficult to breathe. He felt trapped, caught between a rock and a hard place, or rather a war and a garden, with no easy way out.
He preferred to be in his garden, tranquil and without the burden of making these choices. He did not want to be a warrior in a garden…
The Invisible Man took another long drag on his cigar, the glowing tip casting a red light on his face. "You must weigh the consequences of your actions," he said finally, his voice low and intense. "Consider the greater good, but do not lose sight of your own humanity. It is a difficult balance to strike, but it is necessary if you wish to succeed."
Jacques nodded slowly, feeling a sense of resignation settle over him. The cigar smoke hung in the air, a visible reminder of the complexity and darkness of the situation. He knew that the decision he had to make would haunt him for the rest of his life, but he also knew that it was necessary for the survival of the bank.
The two men sat in silence for a few more moments, the only sound the soft crackling of burning tobacco. Jacques knew that he would have to make a difficult decision whether he wanted to or not, and he felt alone.
Garden Of War
The Invisible Man had listened to Jacques' dilemma with a silent understanding. He couldn’t help feeling amused at how humans had become blind to the complexity of life and the harsh realities of the world, as if those were the anomalies, not the norm. His eyes bore a sense of detachment, as if he was not personally affected by Jacques' plight, but was rather a detached observer of the human condition.
He took a long drag from his cigar, letting the smoke swirl around him. It was as if the smoke was a physical manifestation of the Invisible Man himself.
"Jacques," the Invisible Man said finally. "The world is a garden of war, and not just a garden as you have become accustomed to. We often find ourselves caught in shades of grey, where the right and wrong are more contextual than absolutes."
Jacques nodded. The Invisible Man had a way of putting things into perspective, of making him see beyond the immediate situation and into the larger picture.
"You must embrace both good and evil, just like the Chinese philosophy that it is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war" the Invisible Man continued. "Sometimes, the right thing to do is not always the most popular or the most moral. Sometimes, it requires sacrifice and difficult decisions."
He took another drag from his cigar, his eyes never leaving Jacques' face. It was as if he was searching for something in Jacques, something that he needed to see in order to fully unlock Jacques inertia and blockage.
Sophisticated Savages
"There have been many sophisticated savages, both historical and fictional who have had to make difficult decisions," the Invisible Man said, his voice growing more intense. "Consider Julius Caesar, who had to sacrifice the lives of many for the greater good of Rome."
Jacques leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the Invisible Man's face.
The Invisible Man continued, his voice growing more intense. "Napoleon, Alexander the Great, even Churchill. All of them were forced to make difficult decisions that required them to embrace both good and evil. They had to make sacrifices for the greater good, but they also had to stay true to their own moral compass."
Pausing for a moment and letting it hang in the air, the Invisible Man said “And that is a personification of being a sophisticated savage.”
Jacques nodded slowly, feeling a sense of understanding wash over him. The Invisible Man's words were both reassuring and terrifying world.
The Invisible Man leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Jacques. "And consider," he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Batman, Sherlock Holmes, even James Bond. All of them were forced to embrace both good and evil. Each of these characters played a warrior in a garden role. A preamble to each of their stories began usually with a stroll in the garden, metaphorically speaking ofcourse.”
Jacques felt a sense of excitement stir within him, a feeling that he was on the verge of a great revelation.
"But how can I reconcile my own morality with the needs of the bank?" Jacques asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The Invisible Man leaned back in his chair. "That is the question, isn't it?" he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "The truth is, there is no easy answer. You must weigh the consequences of your actions and make a decision that is true to your own moral compass."
Jacques felt a sense of understanding wash over him. The Invisible Man was right. There was no easy answer to his dilemma, no clear-cut path to follow.
"The key is to stay true to yourself," the Invisible Man said, his voice low and intense. "Do what you must, but never forget who you are. It is the foundation of every sophisticated savage"
Gardner Gardens
Jacques sat back in his chair, feeling a sense of resignation wash over him. He knew that the decision he had to make would not be an easy one, but he also knew that it was necessary for the greater good.
There had been so much talk about gardens, a warrior in a garden, warrior in a garden that he yearned for his garden.
The cigar smoke hung thick in the air, a physical reminder of the complexity and darkness of the situation. Jacques knew that he would carry the weight of his decision with him for the rest of his life, but he also knew that it was necessary in order to succeed in the cutthroat world of banking.
The Invisible Man sat back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Jacques' face. He looked at him pitifully, almost sympathetically, feeling more sorry for his tormented state than the problem he had to overcome. The problem itself was a trivial one, one that was only exaggerated by the weakness of Jacques.
There are far more consequential decisions taken by men every single second that defy the logic between good and evil, than what Jacques was agonising over. It was ultimately a big stupid bank after all, and if Jacques wouldn’t pull the trigger, someone else would.
"Remember, Jacques," the Invisible Man said finally, his voice low and intense, betraying his thoughts about the triviality of Jacques problem. "The world is not always black and white. Sometimes, we must embrace the darkness in order to see the light."
Warrior Gardener
The Invisible Man took another long drag from his cigar, letting the smoke swirl around him. Jacques watched him, listening intently.
"You know, Jacques," the Invisible Man said finally, his voice low and measured.
“History is littered with examples of indecision and / or men who were stuck in an inertia because of egotistical considerations, like people’s perception of them, weakness of character, being too gentle, timid and so on so forth.”
Continuing he said “more importantly these men embodied the gardener in a war mentality, having become too comfortable.”
You can clearly borrow some cliched lessons in taking tough decisions from Napoleon and Julius Caesar."
Napoleon Bonaparte
The Invisible Man leaning forward in his chair, with his eyes fixed on Jacques. "During his campaign in Russia in 1812, Napoleon faced a difficult decision. His army had pushed deep into Russian territory, but the harsh winter and the constant attacks from Russian forces had taken their toll. Napoleon knew that he needed to retreat to avoid being trapped, but he also knew that a retreat would be seen as a sign of weakness and could demoralize his soldiers."
Jacques listened attentively, his eyes fixed on the Invisible Man.
"Napoleon was in a tough spot," the Invisible Man continued. "He knew that the Russian forces were closing in on him and that he needed to get his army out of Russia before it was too late. But he also knew that if he retreated too quickly, he risked losing the support of his soldiers and his allies back in France."
The Invisible Man took a puff of his cigar, the smoke swirling around his face.
"Despite the risks, Napoleon decided to delay his retreat and make one last push into Russia," he said. "He hoped that a decisive victory would turn the tide of the war and force the Russians to negotiate a peace."
"But it was a trap," the Invisible Man continued. "The Russian forces led Napoleon deep into their territory, burning their own cities and crops to deny Napoleon and his army food and supplies. The harsh winter, lack of provisions, and constant attacks left Napoleon's army depleted and demoralized."
Jacques looked horrified at the story, the weight of the decision and its outcome beginning to sink in.
"Napoleon's delay in retreating led to the destruction of his army and his reputation," the Invisible Man said. "He should have recognized the danger and acted quickly to save his soldiers, but his ambition and pride got in the way."
The Invisible Man went on to explain that sometimes, tough decisions require a willingness to recognize the danger and act quickly to avoid disaster. In Jacques' case, he may need to put aside his own ambitions and desires to make a difficult but necessary decision for the success of the bank, since both are ultimately interlinked.
Through the story of Napoleon, the Invisible Man sought to show Jacques that sometimes, tough decisions require humility and a willingness to recognize the limits of one's own power. The lesson was not about being ruthless or manipulative, but about recognizing the dangers and acting decisively to avoid them.
The cigar smoke hung thick in the air, a physical reminder of the complexity and darkness of the situation. Jacques knew that he would carry the weight of his decision with him for the rest of his life, but he also knew that it was necessary in order to succeed in the cutthroat world of banking.
Julius Caesar
The Invisible Man took another long drag from his cigar, while Jacques watched him expectantly, waiting for him continue with the next example.
"Another example of a warrior in a garden was Julius Caesar," the Invisible Man began. "In 49 BC, Caesar faced a tough decision. He had just conquered Gaul and was immensely popular with his soldiers, but his political enemies in Rome feared his growing power. The Senate ordered him to disband his army and return to Rome as a private citizen. However, Caesar knew that if he did so, he would be vulnerable to attack from his enemies, who were waiting for him to be defenceless before they struck."
Jacques leaned forward, intrigued by the story.
"Caesar had a choice," the Invisible Man continued. "He could either follow the orders of the Senate and return to Rome, where he would likely be killed, or he could defy the Senate and march on Rome with his army, taking control of the government by force. It was a risky decision, as it could have led to civil war and the collapse of the Roman Republic."
The Invisible Man took another puff of his cigar, letting the smoke hang in the air. Jacques watched him intently, waiting for him to continue.
"Despite the risks, Caesar chose to march on Rome," the Invisible Man said. "He crossed the Rubicon River with his army, famously declaring 'alea iacta est' or 'the die is cast.' He seized control of Rome and established himself as the first dictator of the Roman Republic, ending centuries of democracy."
Jacques frowned, unsure of how this related to his own dilemma.
"The point is, Jacques," the Invisible Man said, "that sometimes, tough decisions require sacrifice. In Caesar's case, he had to risk the lives of his soldiers in order to save the future of Rome. He knew that the Senate would not simply allow him to take power peacefully, so he had to act decisively."
Jacques felt a sense of understanding wash over him. The Invisible Man's lesson from Caesar was that sometimes, tough decisions require a willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good.
Winston Churchill
The Invisible Man continued with the third example, when during World War II, Churchill faced a difficult decision regarding the bombing of German cities. Some in his cabinet and in the public believed that targeting civilians was immoral and a violation of the rules of war. However, Churchill believed that the bombings were necessary to cripple Germany's war effort and bring a quicker end to the conflict. Hence as you can imagine, Churchill's dilemma was not just about military strategy, but also about morality. Bombing civilians was considered immoral and violated the rules of war.
As the decision weighed on him, Churchill struggled with his conscience. He knew that ordering the bombings would result in the loss of innocent lives, and that he would be held responsible for this terrible cost. But he also believed that the cost of not acting could be even greater.
In the end, Churchill decided to order the bombings, and the raids commenced. The bombing campaign was brutal and devastating, with entire cities reduced to rubble and thousands of civilians killed. The images of destruction haunted Churchill, and he struggled to justify his decision in the face of mounting criticism.
The Invisible Man explained to Jacques that Churchill's story is a reminder that being a leader often means having to make tough decisions that require moral courage and a willingness to take risks. While it's important to strive for moral and ethical behaviour, there may be times when the right decision requires a departure from traditional moral norms.
Leadership requires a complex balance of values and interests, and that sometimes the right decision may not be immediately clear. However, leaders must be willing to make tough decisions and take responsibility for their actions, even when the consequences are difficult to bear.
Epilogue
After the Invisible Man's discourse, examples and Jacques' deliberations, the night begins to wind down. Jacques feels a weight lifted off his shoulders but is still unsure of his decision. The Invisible Man finishes his cigar and leaves Jacques with one last thought.
"You must trust yourself, Jacques. And remember, it's better to be a warrior in a garden."
Jacques nods his head and watches as the Invisible Man disappears into the shadows, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
The cigar lounge is now nearly empty, the other patrons having left earlier in the night. Jacques sits back in his chair, his mind racing with the decisions he will have to make in the days to come. The weight on his shoulders still heavy, but not as heavy as before.
As Jacques steps out onto the street, he takes a deep breath of the cool night air. He knows the road ahead will not be an easy one, but he feels more confident in his ability to make the tough decisions.
Walking home, he can't help but think of the lessons the Invisible Man had shared with him. The stories of historical figures who had to embrace both good and evil to achieve success and greatness.
Jacques realizes that he too must navigate the complex world of good and evil, and that sometimes the lines between the two are blurred. But he also knows that he must always strive to do what is right for the greater good, even if it means making difficult and unpopular decisions.
He had to become a sophisticated savage or a warrior in a garden. But where should he start from?
As he reaches his doorstep, Jacques takes one last look at the night sky and nods his head in resolve. He knows that the decisions he will make in the coming days will not be easy, but he will have to be ready to be warrior in the garden, then a gardener in a war.
