In our rapidly changing world, many people are prone to a lack of will and tend to submit voluntarily, favoring passive loyalty over active participation.

Passive Controllers: How 'Yago Advisors' Shape Our World

In our rapidly changing world, many people are prone to a lack of will and tend to submit voluntarily, favoring passive loyalty over active participation. These “Yago Advisors” represent a unique archetype, where common sense is transformed into a tool for controlling those around them. They skillfully use their observation and insight not for growth, but to create an atmosphere where oppression and limitation become the norm.

The main problem is that such individuals not only deprive themselves of the opportunity to demonstrate independence, but also subtly influence everyone around them, turning each of our actions into a powerful reflective mechanism. Their passivity and inability to resist imposed constraints lead collective efforts toward confinement, and the desire for an active life is overshadowed by feelings of despair and exhaustion. Instead of creating space for mutual growth and support, they install an atmosphere in which negative traits and shortcomings become contagious.

In summary, one can say that the influence of such people extends far beyond personal relationships. Each of us, consciously or subconsciously, reflects our essence onto those around us, like a subtle aroma filling the space. The refusal of initiative and the tendency toward disinterested subordination replace the thirst for change and active participation with acceptance of imposed limitations. It is important to remember that only through active engagement and self-awareness can we break this vicious circle and create a more favorable environment for development and mutual understanding.

How often in life do we encounter people resembling “Yago Advisors,” and how does their influence reflect on others?

People resembling “Yago Advisors” are quite common—they are those who neither know nor wish to resist, indulging in passive loyalty and leaning toward submissive obedience instead of active participation. According to one source, “Yago’s philosophy” is built on common sense, which he skillfully uses to transform his perceptiveness into a means of controlling others:

“Yago’s philosophy is precisely what common sense advises him. And there is much truth in it. Do these people, enamored with their servility, not deserve contempt? Have they not renounced their personality, not heeded the specter or idea that people call ‘duty’? Their virtue is passivity. They are loyal only because they neither dare nor know how to resist. And these ‘honest scoundrels’ often play a deceitful game with themselves. Their loyalty sometimes weighs upon them when the demands of their soul become somewhat stronger. Granted, a person's emotional constitution is usually a rather strict sequence. A sheep, deprived of claws and teeth—that is, of means for struggle—is incidentally endowed with meekness. This is something that Yago, as a very perceptive man, understands perfectly well. There are honest scoundrels—that is, precisely—the sheep, whose meekness is rooted in their powerlessness. They loudly declare only ‘cannot’—the idea of ‘can’ is only something they dream of privately. They eagerly exploit these sheepish qualities in others, calling simplicity a virtue, and, according to their strength, impose it as an obligation on all who cannot protest or assert their rights. Thus, Yago understands honesty and is equally indignant with both honest people and those who, in the name of duty, demand loyalty from themselves. Yago has neither moral nor legal right to compel others to serve him. And he seeks other methods by which he can enslave people. He has no theoretically recognized foundation, accepted by all, to deprive his neighbor of labor, property, or life. And he seeks out other tactics of struggle.” (source: link txt)

Such people often go unnoticed in everyday life, yet their influence is quite tangible. Every one of our actions, every character trait—even if it manifests unconsciously—reflects on those around us like a subtle fragrance affecting the surrounding atmosphere. This is why the influence of such personalities can be harmful: their passivity and lack of initiative not only undermine collective efforts toward active deeds but also create an environment dominated by constraints, dissatisfaction, and a sense of hopelessness. As noted:

“Our life itself is reflected in those around us, and we must make every effort so that this reflection brings benefit, relief, and healing. Our influence on others acts not only consciously but also inadvertently and imperceptibly. Something elusive spreads around us from our entire being to those around us, like a delicate floral scent that imperceptibly saturates the air. Our activity may cease, but life does not, and through our very existence, we help or hinder the existence of others. Human shortcomings and qualities are infectious and even unconsciously affect those around us. This influence, when benevolent, resembles the invigorating breath of mountain air, which brings health and strength to so many.” (source: link txt)

Thus, it can be said that “Yago Advisors” are a widespread archetype of people characterized by a lack of initiative and excessive submissiveness, which, in turn, adversely affects their surroundings: they contribute to the creation of an atmosphere in which, instead of productive interaction, oppression and passive compliance prevail.