"Every individual belongs to a "clique", a social circle which supports him when necessary; but the groups change.
He enters alliances, if possible with people ranking high at court. But rank at court can change very quickly...
The degree of aloofness or familiarity with everyone must be carefully measured; each greeting, each conversation
has a significance over and above what is actually said or done..."
Strip away today's sleek business suits and stow the laptops, and you discover the deep social structure of
life at court preserved intact (Maxmin/Zuboff: The support economy, page 224)