But nature will not be conquered or tamed. It is wild and refuses to be consistently predictable. So although man will try many methods to force the river to stay within a preferred area – the floods will eventually come, the levies will erode, and the course of the river will eventually follow nature’s own will.

Now, let’s examine the nature of man. Man may, for a time, be forcefully controlled – historically through the fear of punishment, either by other individuals or the rule of law. But no individual wishes to feel entirely compelled by the demands of others. It is at the heart of man to need to feel ultimately in control of their own thoughts, lives and futures.

So if a man is constantly restricted by an external forceful control – sooner or later that individual is going to begin contemplating strategies to escape it. The controller can not trust in the power of force to keep another subservient. Additionally the controller can never be comfortable letting up for fear of a loss of their power.

Be that “Controlling Other” a domineering spouse, an overbearing parent, or a tyrannical government. They will never be able to truly trust that the person (or persons) they are attempting to control will not, sooner or later, attempt to find a way to break free of that state of restriction.

“Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.”

– Seneca