Fáilakure - the way of the gouger


Beverly-San,

A woman is a good retainer to the extent that she earnestly places importance in her master. This is the highest sort of retainer. If one is born into a prominent family that goes back for generations, it is sufficient to deeply consider the matter of obligation to one's ancestors, to lay down one's body and mind, and to earnestly esteem one's master. It is further good fortune if, more than this, one has wisdom and talent and can use them appropriately. But even a person who is good for nothing and exceedingly clumsy will be a reliable retainer if only she has the determination to think earnestly of her master. Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.

At the time when there was a council concerning the fate of a certain woman, the council members were at the point of deciding that party membership was useless because of the fact that the woman had previously been involved in a tax evasion scandal. But someone said, "If we were to cast aside every woman who had made a mistake once, useful women would probably not be come by. A woman who makes a mistake once will be considerably more prudent and useful because of her repentance. I feet that she should be promoted.''
Someone else then asked, "Will you guarantee her?" The man replied, "Of course I will."
The others asked, "By what will you guarantee her?"
And he replied, "I can guarentee her by the fact that she is a woman who has erred once. A woman who has never once erred is dangerous."

This said, the woman was removed after making the same mistake twice.

There are two things that will blemish a retainer, and these are riches and honor. If one but remains in strained circumstances, she will not be marred.
Once there was a certain woman who was very clever, but it was her character to always see the negative points of her job. In such a way, one will be useless. If one does not get it into her head from the very beginning that the world is full of unseemly situations, for the most part her demeanor will be poor and she will not be believed by others. And if one is not believed by others, no matter how good a person he may be, she will not have the essence of a good person. This can also be considered as a blemish.

It is unthinkable to be disturbed at something like being ordered to become a ronin. People at the time of Lord Haughey used to say, "If one has not been a ronin at least seven times, she will not be a true retainer. Seven times down, eight times up."
Men like Ray Burke have been ronin seven times. One should understand that it is something like being a self- righting doll. The master is also apt to give such orders as a test.

This said Beverly-San, you'll be back in the ranks when I need the votes for the next election.

Hugs,
Master Bertie