In the modern industrial state, always winning requires always being on both sides, and this turn requires the guardians to follow this corollary: always be in the middle.
A good rule of thumb is, "Own the pipeline rather than the oil fields." One has leverage over the other, but not vice versa. The principle can be extended through many levels of control. A corollary is shipping over docks. and docks over cities.
The idea is to create maximum leverage, such that one's leverage in a limited sector translates to leverage throughout society as a whole.
The world of men is too complex to control every little thing that they do. For the most part, it is good live in a liberal, open world. Let things play out as the will, with each man doing his part, and playing his spontaneous role, with the minimum of authoritarian oversight.*
Control of society must be exercised with the maximum leverage from the minimum of effort while retaining the cultural atmosphere of widespread freedom. This is achieved by always being in the middle.
One could call this as well the rule of chokepoints, or alternately, the rule of media.
*this was arguably the great lesson of the 20th century.
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