The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities…
“The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the five sorts of agents. This knowledge must come from the double agents, and therefore it is mandatory that they be treated with the utmost liberality.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A ruler must gather comprehensive intelligence from all agent types, especially double agents, and treat them generously.
In simple terms: Leaders need full intel and treat informants well.
Gather and respect intelligence sources.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- military planning
- corporate espionage
- political negotiations
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify the reliability of informants?
- What safeguards prevent exploitation?
Over‑reliance on double agents can be risky.