Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
You may never directly encounter the Master, but you can influence his creations, suggesting indirect engagement is possible.
In plain terms
You can’t touch the Master, but you can affect his creations.
What can you take from it?
Influence larger systems through their outputs when direct access is impossible.

Where it applies

  • organizational change
  • creative collaboration

Putting it to work

  • work with subordinates
  • shape outcomes indirectly

Questions to consider

  • How can we affect leaders indirectly?
  • What are limits of indirect influence?

Another view

Metaphor may be vague without context of who the 'Master' is.

More from Thomas Pynchon

  1. The innocence of the creatures is in inverse proportion to the immorality of the Master.

    Permalink to quote #35

  2. He lies on top of her, sweating, taking great breaths, watching her face turned 3/4 away, not even a profile, but the terrible Face That is No Face, gone too a…

    Permalink to quote #32

  3. If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers.

    Permalink to quote #36

Related quotes

  1. '...the importance of leadership and what it consists of: not lecturing and posturing and demanding, but demonstrating that your friends will be protected and …

    Paul WolfowitzPaul Wolfowitz quote #6

  2. There are advantages to being the chairman. One of my favorite perks was picking out an issue and doing what I called a 'deep dive.' It's spotting a challenge …

    Jack WelchJack Welch quote #7

  3. I have earned capitol, and I intend to spend it.

    George W. BushGeorge W. Bush quote #170